Sorry that I have no answer to your question, but I am curious about the uninstall/reinstal process (in case I never need to do so).
When you do the uninstall, do you edit the Windows registry and remove the registry keys noted in the Maxis uninstall instructions? What happens if you don't?
I don't know about any registry keys, to complex for me, but when I do the un and reinstall all of it is generated afresh. All shortcuts are new. Does that help you!!
Did you actually go to that University you attached? I think you need to enter it at least once to generate all the new characters.
Yup, I did go there and found it odd that there were no students in the Sim Bin and no pre-existing households. I went to CAS got a YA and loaded him, settled him in, then went back to Pleasantview and still the same message. *Shrugs*