Thanks for posting this, @PowerYEET - it could be very helpful for others experiencing the same problem. I'm sorry it took so much trouble for you to finally get it solved.
Just a note on the SimCityRecovery.exe file - from what I've seen in helping others, the shortcut on the menu does take you to web page that is no longer there. However, the actual file does exist and can be a useful step to use. (It is possible it's not there if the program has never launched successfully. I'm not sure.) The default location is \Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\SimCity\SimCityRecovery\SimCityRecovery.exe. Always run "As Administrator".
Again - thank for your detailed and thorough post on how to solve this issue. It can be a great help to new users who are struggling with this issue. Happy Building!
