@Patka4422 and @adrianna456 To cover all bases, please reinstall the runtimes Sims 3 uses. Start with .NET Framework 3.5. Click Start > Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off, and click the filled-in box next to .NET 3.5 to uninstall it. Restart your computer, and repeat the process, clicking the now-empty box to reinstall. Restart again afterwards.
Please reinstall DirectX 9, as described here:
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Sims-3-launcher-won-t-open/m-p/10711778#M247861
For the 2005 VC++ x86 runtime, open the Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Programs and Features, select the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (it won't say x86, but that's what it is), and click Uninstall at the top of the list. If you see multiple versions of the 2005 runtime that do NOT say x64, uninstall them all. You can get a fresh copy here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26347
You only need the x86 version, not the other two. Restart after installing and before trying to open Sims 3.
If none of this works, let me know. I might have another idea; I'm still thinking about this problem.
Thanks @adrianna456 @Patka4422 and @Oumie-x for confirming this works. I've moved all your posts to their own thread about the issue in Windows 7 for (hopefully) more visibility for other affected users.
