CordFN Try manually uninstalling and reinstalling the VC++ runtimes in question. Sims 3 itself only uses the 2005 x86 version, so start there. Open Windows Settings, select Apps, scroll down to the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables, click on the 2005 version that does NOT say x64 (you may or may not have x64, but you should have x86, which isn't specified), and uninstall. You can get a fresh copy here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26347
Install it and restart your computer before trying to install Sims 3 again. If that doesn't work, uninstall every 2015 and newer VC++ runtime, then install the 2022 x86 and x64 runtimes found here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170
These cover everything from 2015 and newer, so you only need the two copies.
