New Laptop Won't Launch Sims 3

@lbuesch2  Since it's quick and simple to try, please force the game to launch in windowed mode.  (I'm not all that confident it'll help, but it's easier than anything else.)  Go into Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, open Options.ini, search for fullscreen , and set it to 0 (zero).

The initialization error is often related to broken or missing registry entries, which in a fresh install is usually caused by a system issue or an overly active antivirus.  So if you haven't already, please clear the EA App's cache and repair the game with your antivirus temporarily disabled.  As long as you don't do anything else at the same time, your computer should be safe.

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/faq/clear-cache-to-fix-problems-with-your-games/

If that doesn't help, uninstall Sims 3 and the EA App with Revo Uninstaller (the free version is fine), and restart your computer before reinstalling the App.  Create a new folder into which you'll install Sims 3.  The folder should be on the root level of the drive of your choice, for example C:\Games is fine, but not C:\Program Files\Games.  Leave your antivirus disabled while reinstalling and for the first time you try to play.

You'll of course need an Alder Lake-related workaround, and repairing and reinstalling will both undo the effects of the patch.  Rather than running the patch again, please use the Task Manager method covered here:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Sims-3-won-t-open-Alder-Lake-Intel-12th-gen-CPU/m-p/11720109#M251930

It's the most inconvenient but also the most reliable, so it's the easiest way to make sure the Alder Lake issue isn't the current problem.

Okay, so far appears to be working. I had to:

1. Ensure no OneDrive syncing.

2. Used the task manager method to run the Alder Lake patch.

3. Was still having issues and narrowed it down to my mods folder, was having issues with twinsimming's Pasteurized Milk Mod? Random.

Everything now appears to be working, as long as I keep my OneDrive off and patch running!

Thank you for your help!!

@lbuesch2  That's great to hear.  You can try running the Alder Lake Patch itself if you want, rather than using the Task Manager method.  The patch is a one-time fix, no need to keep using the Task Manager or anything else.  If it doesn't work, repair the game and go back to the Task Manager method.

Ugh, update:

Game is now at least getting past the loading screen, but loads to 90% and then crashes. Tried redownloading and cleaning + Alder Lake Patch in task manager but to no avail.

@lbuesch2  If the game loads for more than a few seconds, you're past the Alder Lake issue.  Instead, try moving the entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop.  When you launch the game, a clean folder will spawn with no content, which is fine and part of the purpose of this test.

If that doesn't help, please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/