AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After a year of not being able to play Sims 2 because it wouldn't install this tip finally helped!!
I searched high and low for a solution and found it here! Well, it at least gave me an idea of what to do.
Follow what says on Post #173798
But you might find that when copying the "compressed", video, or sound folders it gives you errors (it did to me many times).
I then opened the "compressed" folder on the disk and copied the individual folders on my Desktop (you might have to copy file by file). Then go to your Desktop and compress the folders (2 or 3 depending[CSBin,TSData,TSBin]) and the change the name to "compressed" and move this folder from the Destop to the Disk1 folder (or Disk2, Disk3, etc).
Make sure ALL the internal files (specially the TSData) have been copied or you might be able to start the game but not open lots or create people.
I had to do this for all my expansion packs (a real 5+ hour pain!) but I was finally able to play all my Expansion Packs!!!
Hope you are able to fix this annoying problem!!!
Oh! And remember to erase all traces of you old files from previous installation attemps from your C://Programs Files>EA Games>The Sims2 folder.
And just in case also erase your Registry.
Good Luck!
Vicky
PS. The problem I had was that the disk would start installating the game but it would stop after a little into the process or wouldn't read the next disk when it asked me for it.
