Answer

"Local disk" most often refers to your internal hard disk (the one inside your computer), as opposed to a hard disk you access through a network. A local disk can also mean an internal CD or a partition of your hard drive, but that's most likely not the case here. If you're using an external hard disk to install and run The Sims, that will be your "local disk."

What this error means is that you don't have enough memory available on your hard disk to install The Sims. Check the system requirements on the box or the game manual to find how much minimum memory the game requires (measured as MB, or megabytes). My copy (The Sims original edition, copyright 2002) says it requires 350 MB of free space on my hard drive. Yours may be different, depending on which version you're trying to install.

Fortunately, this problem is very easy to fix. Just delete enough files on your hard disk to reach this minimum. You can find the amount of memory used and available by using the "System Profiler" utility in Mac OS X. Once you have at least the minimum amount of memory, you should be able to install the program with no problem.

Be sure only to delete files and/or programs you don't need anymore--don't delete important programs or anything in your System folder. Music and photo files often take up a lot of disk space, and my hard disk is often packed with old games I don't play anymore. Look for programs or files you know about, and which you know you won't need or don't use. If you're not sure about a file, don't delete it! Some programs, such as Spring Cleaning, can check over your hard disk for you and help find duplicated files or items which don't seem like they've been used for a while.


Good luck and enjoy the game!

Edited by Yale Man on 10/23/2006 at 4:38 PM