Excellent!  Thank you, crystalclear, for making that... well, crystal clear.   

OK, then do I start the game off of the original FT exe?  Or put in the no cd FT exe again?

I usually don't install a SP until the next EP comes out, but I want to use the K&B stuff before the fall.  I d/l'd the no CD for K&B.  Put my original EXE for FT back in the Program Files where it belonged.  Installed K&B.

Unzipped what I d/l'd.  The 5.48Mb exe file is Sims2SP7.  What do I replace with this?

Replacing the exe in the FT folder does not seem to work and replacing the one in the K&B folder does not seem to work either.  Or am I just being punished for installing a SP before the next EP.  Dammit.

Starting the game in windowed mode seems to have fixed the problem.  Still working on getting the size to where I want it, but the game no longer disappears.

I play off a no CD crack, but I will try cutting a new shortcut.  Easy enough and couldn't hurt.

Yes, I do play full screen.  Love the big game on the 22" monitor.  I'm not even sure how to play windowed, but if it would stop this, I would gladly change.

I do disconnect my internet connection when I play as well as snoozing CA antivirus.  I've killed all the Apple and HP software from starting up with the operating system with CCleaner.  I've weeded through the task manager and can't see what I have open that could cause this.

I'm running on a core 2duo with 3gig ram, so I don't think it's low resources.  I think there is a poltergiest in my Sims game.  Probably from having BV installed when I have had nothing but trouble with that ep.  But I don't want to give up the extras that it adds to the game.

Just curious if it's just me or if anyone else has experienced this.  My Sims game minimizes whenever it feels like it.  When it's loading, while I'm playing, while it's paused.  I've not been able to find any particular action that seems to cause this or found any posts with anyone else talking about this.  I think this started after installing BV.  I don't get to play very often, but I'm sure it was happening before I put FT on.

That is fantastic!  Thanks for letting me know.  Still trying to test out so many hacks, figured this one wouldn't work.  Glad I was wrong.   

I did see the thread in Peasantry, but it seemed to be in debate whether or not that was the way to go.  It's also way more steps than this old lady would want to attempt.  Was looking for something quick and dirty.  (as with most things in life)

I have Sims who are able to go to the hobby clubhouses, but I'd like to be able to throw in a static energy sculpture so they don't get home (at the same time they left) completely dead tired.  I've looked where I know to look, but haven't seen anything like this for FT.

That's the best news I've heard all day.   
I hate using SimPE unless I have to.  Well, and I suck at it.
Thanks for the ray of hope, Amber.

Really had the feeling that's what they were, but wanted to make sure.
Thanks, Emma.  Appreciate it.

I have alot of clothing from SimChic and when I go through to purchase clothing there are item that show up as all white.  Like a white sheet covering the mesh.  I'm not sure if it's safe for me to just delete these or if I do am I deleting the main mesh?   

I know nothing about creating skins (obviously) and so I'm just not sure.  Thanks for any help.

I play all houses for 4 days each in rotation.  The LST is what keeps me on track with that.  If I start a new family and everyone is playing to 24 days, I would start their timer at 20 days and then play them for 4. 

Yep, the double entry did it.  All is well now.

Well crap.  I see now that I have the same script in their twice.  Maybe the same number loading twice is fubaring it.  I'll give it a try with that fixed.

Thanks, morriganrant.  I'd have never looked at those numbers.

You are right.  BV guide lists the "Backyard Pyramid Step It Up" as new in staircases.  Don't think I even noticed it in build mode.

Any ideas on how to change that script or will the creators have to change something with the objects?  (I know nothing about creating objects.)

Yes, that's where I put it.  It's very annoying as most of the 2-story and up houses in my lot bin use these stairs.
I had hoped that redownloading the files would help, but no joy.   

Wow, you're trailers are great!  They are going to fit into my Sim trailer park perfectly.  I built 2 and quit so it will be really nice to have some more variety for my getting-started Sims.  Fantastic job.   

I have a few custom staircases that I have used for longer than I can remember.  They do require you to add text to the modularstairs.txt file.

After putting on BV and adding the text to the files, the game won't load.  Near the end of loading I get a "The application has crashed and you will die and burn in hell" type error box.  I take the text out and the game loads fine, but can't use those stairs.

I have redownloaded all the stairs in case they corrupted and went back over the text file again (and again) to make sure I didn't copy and paste something wrong.

Anyone else having a similar problem?  Are those custom stair just no longer an option?  (Which would suck.  I hate Maxis ugly stairs)

Kyna, you are a dear.  Thank you so much for your help.

Did I miss the instructions for BV in this post?  (I easily could, was up all night llast night with the $%@% tornadoes.)

I'm going to do a fresh install.  So I could easily follow the instructions after BV and then install TSS.  Or probably better yet, wait until the next EP comes out before installing TSS.  It is still sitting on my desk in the box where it's been for quite some time.

My original Pleasantview finally turned into a BFBVFS.  I'm planning to start all over and would like to use this method to play a 'clean' Pleasantview.
My question is:  should I use the Seasons instructions if I have all EPs through BV and all SPs through TSS?
I've never tried anything like this before and just don't want to waste my time seeing if it screws up before I ask.
Thanks!

I'd taken Quaxi's out as I wasn't sure it was compatible with BV and couldn't remember where it came from.  (old age)

I just played with dizzy's that I got earlier and it works great.

I'm still playing my original Pleasantview and it has 1022 char files.  It works fine.