Questions regarding installing expansions

[Lomesul]

I looked the forum over (and did searches) and didn't see any threads pertaining to this.  If there is any with a solution that I didn't find, please just beat me with a wet noodle & point me in the right direction and I will go quietly......

I have a friend who currently has just Sims 2 installed.  She went out & got Double Deluxe and University and has asked me to help her get it installed right.  I know that Double Deluxe (base, Nightlife, Celebrations combo) has SecuROM on it, so I've warned her about it.  And I know what do do about it.  I also know to backup game files to save CC, sims, etc. (I'm not a noob to Sims 2 & installing/reinstalling; that's why my friend asked me for help.)

My questions arise from the combination of stuff she has.  I know that usually Univeristy gets installed before Nightlife, but I'm not sure if she has to uninstall the base game before installing Double Deluxe.  Will Double Deluxe install just Nightlife & Celebrations if the base game is already installed (or base game & University)?  Or does she have to unintall the base game & then install Double Deluxe?  If the second is the answer, won't it screw up the game when she installs University after Double Deluxe?

I'd just have her torrent Nightlife & Celebrations, but she is a relative newbie and doesn't seem the kind who'd want pirated copies.  Hell, a year ago, I wouldn't have wanted pirated copies (one of EA's 'honest' customers).  But EA's behavior towards customers has changed my mind and I've arrred everything that they put SuckRom on.  She's such a noob to Sims 2 (a Sims 1 addict that's decided just recently to move up to 2) that she's still working on getting the basics down on how to play, get CC into her game, and learn of things like Clean Installer and some useful mods/hacks.  I'll be explaining things to her about the sims community, pay vs. free, EA's crappiness, etc. after she's no longer feeling quite so inundated.

Anyway, the possible paths I see are these: 1) keep base game installed, add University, then add Nightlife & Celebrations from Double Delluxe, 2) uninstall base game, install Double Deluxe and then install University, or 3) something else that you guys & gals come up with.  Which should she do?  Thanks for any help you can give.

[Gwill]

I think the simplest and safest would be to uninstall the base game and any previous EPs and start over.
I don't think you can install DD on top of the base game.  I just re-installed everything on my computer, and my current set-up includes Double Deluxe.  The folder structure in DD is different (not much, but enough) than it would be if installing the base game, Nl and CS separately.

[Lord Darcy]

Will Double Deluxe install just Nightlife & Celebrations if the base game is already installed (or base game & University)?  Or does she have to unintall the base game & then install Double Deluxe?

Although Double Deluxe is the combination of 3 packs, it installs like one pack. It is mainly intended for first-time buyers.
Personally I've never tried to install DD over the regular base game, so I wouldn't know if it's even possible or not. But I suggest that she backs up her saved game first, uninstalls the base game completely, and freshly installs DD, just to be on the safe side. Not worth risking bad things like registry mess-up. Possibly the uninstaller can be screwed up, making it impossible to uninstall and reinstall, which she will be forced to do someday.

If the second is the answer, won't it screw up the game when she installs University after Double Deluxe?

No. Unlike TS1, installation order does not matter in TS2. It's the only possible way to install Uni for DD owners, anyway.

I'd just have her torrent Nightlife & Celebrations, but she is a relative newbie and doesn't seem the kind who'd want pirated copies.

Well, I've acquired Double Deluxe even though I already have NL and Celebration, just to reduce a couple of steps in my seasonal Dance of the 20 Discs.

Edit: Ninja'ed by Gwill.

[seelindarun]

Also remind your friend that there is nothing illegal about arr'ing a copy of something she already owns.  She purchased the license to play, not the specific form with which to install the game.

[Lomesul]

Thanks for your replies everyone.  I'll let her know what you said.  I just wanted to double check with those in the know before I did anything, since I haven't worked with Double Deluxe before.  I believe in the 'better safe than sorry' way of doing things.