Can I trust cc content? / Recommendations of safe sites «12...Next Go

HopeAK

Hi! I am just wondering how badly cc content can harm your game if it contains any viruses. Are there some things you can be certain are totally safe? Up until now I have been pretty clear on the fact that I was just going to use store content(which I know is completely safe), but there are so many creative people and such beautiful exchange items, that I am tempted to try. However, I do not want my game to suffer :(
Any thoughts or/and experiences?

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edit:
Here we go again!
I know that this issue has been raised many times before, but when I tried to dig for old threads the answers were so diverse
What I am wondering is if there are any CC(from other sites than the exchange) that is safe(mostly hair and clothing)? And if you were to download something bad, would the problems go away if you simply remove it? Or can it destroy the game forever? Can it ruin the computer in any way?

How many of you use CC really?

Also, Is it possible to download a zip program and CC on another computer, and when the files are converted just slide them over to the computer I play on?

(Sorry to bother you)

Sindocat

It depends on whether there is custom content in the Exchange lot/product.

My own do not use CC - just Store, Expansion and Stuff Pack items I have personalized in CAS. However, some do upload custom content, some of that can be harmful.

I don't take any chances, personally. I upload to the Exchange if I make something I am proud of, but very seldom download from it.

HopeAK

Than it is not just me who are sceptical :D I really don’t want to take any chances with the game..

Cinderellimouse

I'd recommend getting Custard and running the downloads through it before installing it to your game. CC has been known to piggy-back on apparently 'clean' uploads. I doubt you'd get a virus, but you are pretty likely to get 'bad' cc which can corrupt your game.

I personally rarely download from the exchange and when I do it's from people I know very well and trust. However, I've seen the horror screenshots, and I know many people swear by Custard. So that's the advice as best as I can give it. :-)

Karritz

Use Custard as it is the best thing generally known to pick up issues with files. But custard is an old tool and it isn't 100% correct all the time. So be aware if Custard says something is good then you can't assume that it doesn't contain something that is harmful. And custard sometimes is wrong when it says something is bad.

Crinrict has a thread that is stickied to the top of this forum. It is about bad CC. It explains it and has links.

HopeAK

Thank you!

brandi22

Cinderellimouse wrote: »

I'd recommend getting Custard and running the downloads through it before installing it to your game.

I do agree with Cindrelli. I learned my lesson after this happened to one of the babies in my game (the stick-like figure shooting from the Sim's hand is supposed to be a baby).



....and also this interesting looking creature


All of this happened because of some bad custom content that hitched a ride with Sims I downloaded from the Exchange. Their clothing was coded incorrectly (it was supposed to be coded for young adult Sims, but somehow it was also coded for baby Sims). When a baby Sim was born with the clothing attached, it came out looking like the first picture, then transitioned into the alien thing during the toddler stage.

I still love to download from the Exchange (only lots now) BUT I always use Custard before downloading *anything* from it. Nothing gets into my game unless it runs through clean - no matter how much I love it. It's just not worth running into issues, then spending hours combing through the Launcher to find the bad stuff, or even worse, having to reinstall the whole game.

I've been using Custard for years and never run into issues with it, but I can't say for certain it is accurate 100% of the time. It's better than nothing, though.

I hope that helps you!

HopeAK

Thank you! :)

HopeAK

edit: moved it to the first post

Enchantedprey

@HopeAK‌ I personally have over 6k items in may game plus numerous package type files. I do them in small batches to try to catch bad cc but as of right now I have it good to go.
really CC is preference. I am obsessive with downloading it is like virtual shopping and I love having so many choices when I decorate homes
just be careful, back up before adding new content and do in 50 or less item batches or you may freeze the launcher (I have done this many times) mine likes batches of 30ish the best

HopeAK

Thank you for responding @enchantedprey! Which pages to you use the most?
Say the game do get corrupted, will it fix itself if I were to just remove the CC?


edit:misspelling

Karritz

Sometimes removing the CC will solve the problem.

The worst that can happen would be deleting the Sims 3 folder and lose everything in it and start again from scratch. You might need to reinstall the game too but that depends on what the CC actually did to the game.

SimplyJen

I really don't recommend relying on the exchange for CC. It is much better to learn how to install it yourself. When you're downloading CC in package files you can organize it. It makes finding bad CC and removing unwanted CC so much easier.

CC Basics: http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_CC_Basics
Removing Bad CC: http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/custom-content-cc/bad-cc
Organizing CC: http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_Organizing_Custom_Content

Places I go for CC:
http://modthesims.info/
https://www.tumblr.com/search/ts3cc
http://mysims3blog.blogspot.com/

HopeAK

Simasaurus09 wrote: »

I really don't recommend relying on the exchange for CC. It is much better to learn how to install it yourself. When you're downloading CC in package files you can organize it. It makes finding bad CC and removing unwanted CC so much easier.

CC Basics: http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_CC_Basics
Removing Bad CC: http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/custom-content-cc/bad-cc
Organizing CC: http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_Organizing_Custom_Content

Places I go for CC:
http://modthesims.info/
https://www.tumblr.com/search/ts3cc
http://mysims3blog.blogspot.com/

Thank you Have you had many problems with bad cc? How much damage can they do? And how badly do they slow down your game? Sorry for the trouble

Enchantedprey

@HopeAK‌ I have 4 copies of all my content. I have a seagate external 3 terabite harddrive besides the save that I play from on my internal hard drive
thats how I am able to catch any that are not good or the random sims2 item that somehow got downloaded lol
there is a folder that is base game
then a folder with only EA store items
then a folder that is 2 weeks back
then a folder of the game with the content that has been in game for a week
and a folder with solely the content files
I rotate the last two after the week the content has been in game and used. if it has any problems I know I can restore it to an earlier configuration.
if it does have problems I open the base game version and I test each item of that week's set for the problem and any non problematic items go into the next weeks batch to be tested again.
not many people can do all the saves I do as the bigger folders are between 15- 20 gig each right now
- but it is best to have at least the 2 so you can rollback if you need to

also I download from TSR a huge amount they have so many amazing items
http://sims3.simcredibledesigns.com/
http://www.aroundthesims3.com/
there are a few other sites that I trust but those 3 will keep you busy with items for awhile

HopeAK

Enchantedprey wrote: »

@HopeAK‌ I have 4 copies of all my content. I have a seagate external 3 terabite harddrive besides the save that I play from on my internal hard drive
thats how I am able to catch any that are not good or the random sims2 item that somehow got downloaded lol
there is a folder that is base game
then a folder with only EA store items
then a folder that is 2 weeks back
then a folder of the game with the content that has been in game for a week
and a folder with solely the content files
I rotate the last two after the week the content has been in game and used. if it has any problems I know I can restore it to an earlier configuration.
if it does have problems I open the base game version and I test each item of that week's set for the problem and any non problematic items go into the next weeks batch to be tested again.
not many people can do all the saves I do as the bigger folders are between 15- 20 gig each right now
- but it is best to have at least the 2 so you can rollback if you need to

also I download from TSR a huge amount they have so many amazing items
http://sims3.simcredibledesigns.com/
http://www.aroundthesims3.com/
there are a few other sites that I trust but those 3 will keep you busy with items for awhile

Thank you for responding @Enchantedprey ! I am still not sure if I want to take the risk, so I guess I just have to think about it for a while longer. There are so many out there who does not use cc content because the content have ruined both computers and games before but on the other hand there are so many amazing things

SimplyJen

HopeAK wrote: »

Simasaurus09 wrote: »

I really don't recommend relying on the exchange for CC. It is much better to learn how to install it yourself. When you're downloading CC in package files you can organize it. It makes finding bad CC and removing unwanted CC so much easier.

CC Basics: http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_CC_Basics
Removing Bad CC: http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/custom-content-cc/bad-cc
Organizing CC: http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_Organizing_Custom_Content

Places I go for CC:
http://modthesims.info/
https://www.tumblr.com/search/ts3cc
http://mysims3blog.blogspot.com/

Thank you Have you had many problems with bad cc? How much damage can they do? And how badly do they slow down your game? Sorry for the trouble

I've only had one piece of bad CC. It came from the exchange and normally I don't download anything from there. With bad CC you can have some funny looking sims. It won't break your game or computer but it can be pretty annoying to look at. I've listed a link for bad CC and how to remove it above. If you're careful and use all the tips posted in this thread then you have a slim chance coming across bad CC.

When you install anything Expansions, Stuff Packs, Store Content, and even CC that is not bad it can still slow down your game. It all depends on your computer and how much it can handle.

SimplyJen

HopeAK wrote:

I am still not sure if I want to take the risk, so I guess I just have to think about it for a while longer. There are so many out there who does not use cc content because the content have ruined both computers and games before but on the other hand there are so many amazing things

I'm not trying to push you to use CC but you shouldn't be scared of it. Most people who curse CC from a bad experience probably only got it from the exchange. My advice is keep track of what and where you're getting it and take the time to read descriptions if the creator list anything.

Karritz

From what I understand CC you get from the exchange usually comes attached to something else. It was often not bad cc when it was loaded to the exchange but it has to be updated by the original maker when there is a patch or they release a new Expansion or Stuff pack. This is when you need to go back to the person who made the CC for updated version of it. If you don't know who made it you can't do that. You won't know who made it if the person who made the item you downloaded put someone else's Cc on it. CC that hasn't been updated as required can become bad.

Bleubell

There's good cc but there is also the kind that will corrupt your game and bring in all kinds of glitches. I don't download anything from the exchange anymore because most of the Sims you find on there contain the centaur outfit or the glitchy party boots that are categorized into the baby section, turning them into sticks or making them look half black.

I also don't trust the Mods folder as my launcher won't even open when they're in my game. Installing popular (trusted) quality cc is always good and it's usually wicked cute stuff! Look on the Sims Resource for the best cc and on the featured page.

HopeAK

Thank you both @karritz and @bleubell for all your help! Just to point out, I am not really considerding the exchange anymore, mostly other sites like modthesims. But, Is it possible to download a zip program and CC on another computer, and when the files are converted just slide them over to the computer I play on?

Karritz

I'm not sure what you mean but I have downloaded a few lots from the exchange as well as some world's. I have two Sims 3 folders and one of them doesn't have anything I've downloaded just in case there is CC in It accidentally. I don't want any CC to attach itself to my builds.

Therefore I think if you want to experiment with CC you could keep a copy of your clean Sims 3 folder. Just remember if the folder with the CC in it gets corrupted you can't copy your saved games into the clean folder from the corrupted or it could become corrupted too.

Bleubell

HopeAK wrote: »

Thank you both @karritz and @bleubell for all your help! Just to point out, I am not really considerding the exchange anymore, mostly other sites like modthesims. But, Is it possible to download a zip program and CC on another computer, and when the files are converted just slide them over to the computer I play on?

Great! And yeah, just put them through a hard drive or something.

HopeAK

Bleubell wrote: »

HopeAK wrote: »

Thank you both @karritz and @bleubell for all your help! Just to point out, I am not really considerding the exchange anymore, mostly other sites like modthesims. But, Is it possible to download a zip program and CC on another computer, and when the files are converted just slide them over to the computer I play on?

Great! And yeah, just put them through a hard drive or something.

I think I will try that @Bleubell‌ ! When I move them from the harddrive to the computer, is it enough to just create a new folder named mods, or do I have to have a zip program on that computer as well? How soon do you discover if they are bad?

Karritz

HopeAK wrote: »

Bleubell wrote: »

HopeAK wrote: »

Thank you both @karritz and @bleubell for all your help! Just to point out, I am not really considerding the exchange anymore, mostly other sites like modthesims. But, Is it possible to download a zip program and CC on another computer, and when the files are converted just slide them over to the computer I play on?

Great! And yeah, just put them through a hard drive or something.

I think I will try that @Bleubell‌ ! When I move them from the harddrive to the computer, is it enough to just create a new folder named mods, or do I have to have a zip program on that computer as well? How soon do you discover if they are bad?

I've always avoided it but I suppose you'll find out its bad when things start going wrong in your game.

HopeAK

@bleubell. Well, I took the chance, and so far so good! And an amazing supply of hairstyles in my game (*)
I have mostly used Anubis and beaverhausen, but do you have some other safe sites to recommend? Thank you for all your help