ok i FINALLY got my sister to try VF and now she loves it (of course) but her husband is getting her a new computer and she asked me if she would have to start her family all over(shes on generation 3). i said i dont know but i know where i can find the answer! also she only has 1 family and i was trying to help her have a baby every time with the backup files, but when i use mine i switch families and it works every time, but with hers i cant switch families so it didnt work with her. is there any way i can do the backups without switching families? me and my sister thank everyone who responds!

This post should help you.

thanks Heather but i know HOW to back up the files, just not how to move them from one computer to another and how to do it with only one family.

Place the savegame file (or files) on a CD, or USB drive, using the first computer, then take the CD or USB drive to the second computer, copy the files from the CD/USB drive to the second computer and place them in the appropriate location on the second computer.

While I am fairly new at this game, I am a computer technician by trade. I can tell you that VF is installed in the Windows Program Files, that means it is written to the registry and can only be removed through the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel or through a program uninstall which will remove it from the registry. Simply copying the entire game to the new computer will not work unless you first re-install the basic game on the new computer so it writes to the registry. You can then copy your old game family files to the new computer.

First backup all your LDW folder files on your old computer to a removeable media, such as to a disk or thumb drive. Also copy any image files you might have changed through the addition of any mods. Once the basic game is freshly installed on the new computer, you can then copy your family files from the old computer to the newly installed game program on the new computer so you don't lose your family.

As far as trying to copy and use backup files, you cannot overwrite a file if that file is currently in use by the computer. With only one family, the only way to do that is to close the game down, then copy and paste your backup file to the LDW\Virtual Families folder. An easier way is to create a second family, then pause the second family so you don't have to deal with it. You will then be able copy and paste your backup files for your first family by switching to this second family through the menu, the second family will remain on pause.

My answer was simply for the savegame files, not the game itself.

thanks Heather & Cheron!