Re: Game launcher opens but returns to ea app when loading game

@nicknick1009  The service initialization error usually has to do with missing or corrupt registry entries.  Did you happen to disable or uninstall one or more packs after installing the game?  If so, please reenable those packs and let me know whether it helps.  You don't necessarily need to play with all the DLC all the time, but removing some of it is more involved than simply checking the box in Steam.

If that doesn't help, or you don't own any DLC, please uninstall Sims 3 with Revo Uninstaller (the free version is fine) and reinstall it.  Don't move the game to a new location after installing it, and if you use a cleaner app or another program that edits your computer's registry, disable it before reinstalling the game.

@puzzlezaddict I basically just installed the game and went to play it. Did not disable or (un)install anything. It unfortunately did not help to even uninstall and reinstall the whole game through Steam. I am going to be doing it with Revo now, but I use no cleaner app or similar programs. My AV is Windows Defender.

@puzzlezaddict Just uninstalled with Revo and did a clean installation back. Still getting the same error. Doing the CPU affinity process to have the game open, but just tried Lady's method again and have the same error appearing. 

Any clue what I can do?

@nicknick1009  If the CPU affinity method is getting the game to open correctly but the Lazy Duchess patch is not, that suggests that the patch either isn't being applied correctly or that something on your system is objecting to it running.  If you used a third-party antivirus, that would be one suspect, but perhaps even having Steam open while running the patch could be an issue.

If the CPU affinity approach isn't working anymore, repair the game in Steam: open your game library, right-click the Sims 3 tile, and select Properties > Local files > Verify integrity of the game files.  This should undo any effects of the patch.  Then try the CPU affinity method again and let me know whether it works.

@puzzlezaddict I think I expressed myself badly. 

I meant that I was using the CPU affinity mainly to try to get everything up and running, and switched it up to Lady's method to see if there was going to be any difference.

However, neither of them are letting me run the game properly, I keep getting the error shown on the earlier screenshots. I couldn't get the game to work through any form yet.

@puzzlezaddict I f#cking love you. Thanks for the help. All worked out now.

im trying to run sims 3 for the first time in years. running it on steam since it states i have 1.6k hours on there and just want to see what family i had etc, i tried to run it and i get the same code that the original question comes from.  i repaired the game, what do you mean by make it local dont link your microsoft acc. I'm not very techy so if you could dumb it down, thank you:)

sourman8​  Are you saying you're getting a service initialization error?  If so, a local admin Windows account may help, but it doesn't always.  If you want try that now, use these instructions:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/manage-user-accounts-in-windows-104dc19f-6430-4b49-6a2b-e4dbd1dcdf32

Make a user account, don't link it to an email address, and configure it as an administrator.