These solutions do not appear to have fixed the problem. Or should I not expect my Sims' names to just revert back once the patch is applied?
Plum, I used that fix too and it did absolutely nothing for my problem caused by the European version of H&M. Far as I know, it only fixes the registry for Family Fun Stuff. If that's not the expansion that's causing you issues, that won't do it.
Which EP/SP did you install that switched things for you? Go to Run...then put in "regedit" and hit "Run". The path you need to follow is "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>EA Games>The Sims 2 "
insert EP/SP that's borking here". Make sure you are hitting the plus sign to expand.
Click on the Sims 2 "
blah" folder and a list will pop up to the right.
Wrong-click on "Language". Choose "Modify". Change the value data to "English US" (just type it in). Hit "OK".
Wrong-click on "Locale". Choose "Modify". Change the value data to "en_us" . OK
Now, when you expanded the Sims 2 "
blah" file, a subfolder called "1.0" should have popped up. Click on that.
Wrong-click on "Language". Choose "Modify". Change the value data to 1. OK
Wrong-click on "Language Name". Choose "Modify". Change the value data to "English US". OK.
X out, no more 24-hour crap, old names back.
As for it fixing names, fixing the language did fix names for me, and I had saved several times.