@realsmolnutt This guide is for Windows 10, not 11, but it covers the standard options for Controlled Folder Access, the feature of Windows Defender that typically causes problems:
https://crinrict.com/blog/2019/03/windows-10-defender-controlled-folder-access.html
The guide is also for Sims 4, but you can replace TS4_x64.exe with TS3.exe wherever you see it.
Long time since I've come on here because I simply got so upset I had given up but I absolutely love this game and very much want it back. I did what you said and still it has not worked. Something that I have noticed is that when I delete the sims 3 file in documents, load up the game and then right away start a new save it will work! BUT once I close out after that initial load up it goes right back to what it was doing before. Something I forgot to mention is that I have Google Drive connected to my computer and backing up my files as well. I thought this might be causing an issue but I haven't seen a way to pause the syncing like I can with OneDrive although I have turned OneDrive off all together. I'm really hoping you will still be willing to help me with this because I am just at a loss.
@realsmolnutt Here's how to pause syncing:
https://support.google.com/drive/answer/13470231?hl=en#zippy=%2Cpause-sync
And yes, I wouldn't be surprised if Google Drive syncing were the issue.
