Clearing the Caches

Why Clear your Cache? Because it gets corrupted. And when it gets Corrupted, it can cause your game to crash.

What is the Cache? It's where the game stores an index of your CC content.

How do I clear the Cache?
The easiest way to deal with this - is to delete your cache files, forcing the game to recreate them each time.

Location: My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\

You'll find 1 or 2 files: Groups.cache and Accessories.cache.

Delete them.

Alternatively - if you can get an empty Groups.cache that if you set it to read-only, you will never have this problem again.

An empty Accessories.cache has been attached. Set it to read-only (using right-click properties in Windows Explorer)

Thanks for this Kiri - I was a bit confused as to how to do this without breaking everything.

No worries Lee. I used to have a bat file that did this automagically and then started up the game. Can't find it now, and am too lazy to recreate it.

I'm happy to delete most things in test hoods, so if there's ever anything you want to check - let me know :D

I use to clear my caches before starting my game, then about 18 months ago someone recommended I download the empty Groups.cache, I just wish I could get an empty Accessories.cache as well, then I would never have to touch that either.

Is it possible to remove the downloads folder, clear both caches, start the game then set then both to read only?

Also Kiri do you know if deleting the Content Registry does anything.

The simplest way to do that - is just start up a new game. Rename your old game to 'Sims 2 - X' or something like that. The game will regenerate the cache, and they will be empty of User CC. Set them to read-only should be done.

I just had a bit of look at the content registry file that I have. It contains the links to the bodyshop files that we've added in SavedSims. I suspect that it is ok to delete. I have deleted it, and it doesn't seem to have made a difference.

Attached is an empty Accessory.cache

♥ Thanks and hugs for the Accessory.cache file Kiri. ♥

If anyone wants a Groups.cache file, that is totally empty you can get one from Caleb_71 HERE, it's the one I have been using for over 12 months now without deleting.

Just remember, after placing the file in My Documents > EA Games > The Sims 2...to right click, go to properties and tick the Read-only box before starting up your game.