I purchased a new Stuff Pack and it is not letting me install it until I update to 1.69 which is annoying. Is there any way around that - aside from buying the physical copy since I cannot get a refund?

I cannot play The Sims unless I log into origin, but the account I would use to play The Sims is not the same one I purchased the Stuff Pack on. Will it let me play with the secondary account, or will I have to use the buying account?

<a href="http://nraas.wikispaces.com/Patch+1.69" ... ch+1.69</a>

You cannot avoid Patch 1.69 when installing any base game, EP, or SP by way of Origin or if you are installing them to a base game that is from a post-Sept. 2012 disc. I know this is annoying, but it's also actually the entire point of the patch -- to tie the game, the Launcher, and Origin together.

And no, as far as I know the only way to install or use content purchased under a different Origin account than the one you are using to play is to contact EA/Origin customer support and have them combine your accounts. Has it been more than 24 hours since your purchase? If not, you might be able to get a refund as a dissatisfied customer.

There are now only three ways to stay on 1.67 when installing the game or EP/SPs:

1- An all disc install, with a base game disc from prior to Sept. 2012, which will allow you to keep Origin entirely out of the picture.
2 - An all Steam install, since there is no 1.69 or Origin involved. But for most of us, that would require repurchasing everything under Steam.
3 - An install of the Mac version since there is no 1.69 for Mac. But, besides the requirement of actually having a Mac to install on, that brings other undesirable limitations into the picture.

I installed the Stuff Pack with Origin, then uninstalled the base game and re-installed it VIA physical copy. When I patched to 1.67 though it uninstalled the new Stuff Pack. The stuff pack in question is not protected by the ""Great Game Guarantee" though, so i cannot refund it. This stupid patch has screwed up everything.

Unfortunately igazor that method will no longer work with the new EP and SP downloads from Origin if you down patch from 1.69 to 1.67 you lose all access to the EP or SP you downloaded if you look in your Programs and Feature were you have a list of installed programs you'll see that the SP/EP is still installed but not accessible without patch 1.69

oops I kinda mis-read your post sorry igazor

That's okay. And no, they tightened things down with an Origin update somewhere along the line, so correct that method no longer works. The three methods I listed out are the only ways to install anything (base game, EP/SPs) and still stay away from 1.69.