How do I change my Sims 3 installed content and saved games location?

Question

Because my C: drive is just a 40gig SSD and space is an issue with it, I tend to keep games from saving files, DLC and screenshots there.

I've changed my 'Documents' target on Windows 7 to target a folder on my D: drive. However, Sims 3 doesn't seem to care about this and keeps creating files at Username\My Documents on my C: drive.

Could anyone tell me if its possible, and how I can get it to download store content, save screenshots, save games, etc., in a folder on my D: drive and not there?

Answer 1

I'm guessing the game has been hard coded to use C:\ instead of checking where the documents directory is, you could use a NTFS Symbolic Link to workaround it. This will essentially create a shortcut, that programs will actually follow it properly.

To create one you will need to open a command prompt as admin. To do that just open the Start menu, type "cmd" and press Control + Shift + Enter. From there the basic command your going to want is

mklink /D "C:\Users\[you]\Documents" "D:\Users\[you]\Documents"

Of course supplement the directories for the ones your using. You can either do it for the entire Documents directory or just for The Sims 3 data.

Answer 2

Try uninstalling it then when you re-install it, use the custom download option and set it where you want it to save, unless that's what you mean when you said, "I've changed my 'Documents' target on Windows 7 to target a folder on my D: drive."