How do I extract the files?

Ok, now I have extracted the files, but how do I get them into my game?

Am I allowed to use your creations in movies and screenshots?

Am I allowed to share your creations or to package them with my sims? 

What about the meshes you used? Where do I get them?  

And where do you get all the hairs? Most of them are pay hairs... 

 

 

 

How do I extract the files?
My files are compressed as .rar file. To extract them you need either winrar
(get a free trial version here) or one of these free tools: Al-Zip,  7-Zip, QuickZip, UltimateZip  or Filzip

Ok, now I have extracted the files, but how do I get them into my game?
To get them into your game, you have to put it at
My Documents\EA games\The Sims2\Downloads.
When you have Nightlife or a newer EP you can put them into subfolders.

When there is no downloads folder, you can create one, but please write it with a capital D (Downloads), otherwise your game might have problems to find it.

Am I allowed to use your creations in movies and screenshots?
Yes, sure, and if you are asked where you got the recolors, link back here, but otherwise no credit is needed.

Am I allowed to share your creations or to package them with my sims?
Do whatever you want. Share with friends, use in uploaded sims etc. But please bear in mind that the meshes and textures are not created by me, only the recolors, and the original creator might have different policies.

What about the meshes you used? Where do I get them?
The meshes and textures I use are not created by me but by other people. Quite often these items are paysite items. But EA games said that custom content should be shared and making profit out of this game is not allowed (read more about it at Noukiesims2.net). So I'll include meshes that are not available for everyone, that are either paysite meshes or free site meshes that are hard to get, when the site is down quite often, if you have to download a whole set to get the mesh only or if you have to register.

 

UPDATE: For those who hesitated to download the files because it wasn't explicitly said if it is allowed to share pay content, here are two screenshots of conversations with EA Games, one held by Nouk, one by Hysterical Paroxysm, find them here and here .  It is explicitly said that it isn't allowed to sell items for the game or have subscription fees, and everyone can share the game content.

 

 

I payed for some of the hairs, but not for all of them, I cannot afford that. But luckily there are sites like the Simscave or PaysitesMustBeDestroyed / The Booty where everyone can get paysite files. If these sites are able to host the files for free, why aren't paysites?