Can't create or load saves, "Serious error"
I attached my system specs as a text file. Forgive me if that's not how this is supposed to be done, this is my first time posting here. I also have every expansion pack and stuff pack aside from the Katy Perry one.
I was playing Sims 3 on Windows 11 and started encountering the infamous Save Error 16 when trying to save. I had a feeling this wasn't going to be fixed any time soon, so I decided to downgrade to Windows 10. Unfortunately the 10 day grace period had passed so I did a fresh installation. I'm not sure if that's relevant but I figured I'd include it just in case.
I brought up a save and started playing it. Things worked fine for a while, but soon I got error 16 again. I closed the game and deleted the .bad files, then loaded the game up again and went to resume my save file, but when I tried to load it it gave me this message: "A serious error has occurred while loading SaveGame.save. It is strongly recommended that you restart the application." Trying to start a new game got me the same message.
I've now uninstalled and reinstalled the game several times, and every time the same thing happens:
On the initial launch, everything works as it should. I can start a new game, I can save, everything's normal. If I try to load an old save at this point, however, after loading it gives me the "serious error" message.
On the next launch, the launcher does the glitch where it unchecks all of your expansions and stuff packs so you have to close the launcher and reopen it to be able to use those packs. Whether I fix the glitch or not (via re-checking and re-launching) doesn't seem to change anything. Again, I don't know if this is relevant, but it's just weird that it happens EVERY time.
Then when I start the game again, I can't create or load any new saves. When I try, the loading bar fills instantly and I get the "serious error" message again. (Not sure if it'll help, but I want to note that trying to load a save on the initial launch takes longer despite giving the same error.)
I eventually started just renaming the Sims 3 folder since that had the same effect.
Having the Sims 3 folder open doesn't seem to effect anything. Nothing else I've done helps.
I really like this game, and my impulsive re-install of Windows 10 ended up with me losing over a year's worth of screenshots and videos because I forgot to back them up, so it REALLY sucks that the one thing I did all that for doesn't even work. Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
@hugsohugs The fact that the game works fine in the new Windows account means that the problem lies in your main account, and that it's likely borked permissions or some user setting. For the permissions, that's why I asked if you were using an antivirus: these programs can block another app's access to Documents or a folder inside.
From here, one thing you could try is removing the Electronic Arts folder, in case the issue is that folder and not all of Documents. If that doesn't help, the takeown command might. (You do need to run it from your main account, not the new one.) This is the command:
takeown /F "C:\Users\username\Documents"
Write your actual username for this Windows account (your main one) instead of username. Since the syntax needs to be exactly right, please copy this command to a Notepad file, substitute in your username, and then copy that string when you're ready to use it. Hit Windows key-X and choose either "PowerShell (Administrator)" or "Windows Terminal (Administrator)," whichever option is offered, and paste the command into the window.
Just to be thorough, please move the Electronic Arts folder out of Documents, if you haven't already, before trying to play.
