Sims 3 Won't Launch on Windows 10

@Dr_Houdini  The service initialization error is usually related to broken, missing, or duplicate registry entries.  So even though you've used CCleaner already, it's worth doing a clean uninstall with Revo Uninstaller.  Here's how:

• If there's a Sims 3 folder in Documents\Electronic Arts, put it aside and rename it to something that doesn't include the words "Sims 3."
• Download Revo Uninstaller (the free version is fine) from here.
• Launch Revo, select Sims 3 from the list, and click Uninstall.
• Once the game is uninstalled, select "Moderate" under "scanning modes," and click Scan.
• Review the list, in case there's something you want to save; otherwise, click Select All, and then Delete.
• Close Revo, and restart your computer.

Uninstall the EA App with Revo as well.  I don't currently have a guide for that, but it should be straightforward, and the App has been crashing, according to your dxdiag.

Reinstall the EA App, then create a new folder on the root level of the drive of your choice.  For example, C:\Games is fine, but not C:\Program Files\Games.  Install Sims 3 there.

If you use a third-party antivirus, disable it before reinstalling the EA App, and don't reenable it until after you've tested Sims 3.  As long as you don't do anything else at the same time, your computer should be safe.

@puzzlezaddict Thank you for responding. I'm attempting this right now. I've tried it already at least once but I think I fumbled the document folder so I'm trying it again. May I ask what renaming and setting aside the documents folder does in this case? 

Apologies, I'm not exactly tech savvy...

Update: Some progress has been made. There is no longer an error code, however the game will not play when launched. Is this related to the document folder that I was asked to set aside?

When the game tries to launch, I briefly get what seems like the game loading (black screen with white bar and a spinny wheel of death) but then the screen closes out leaving the application in the task bar. I have to use task manager to close it. 

puzzleaddict, if dr houdini is apparently not tech savvy then I am seconds away from jumping off a bridge because I have no idea how to fix this issue or pull up that file that says all the computer specs. I don't even know my computer specs.... I just got a new MSI laptop, first good laptop I have ever had & I have no idea why sims 3 won't launch.

I'm so sorry @jborbs22 , if you're referring to regular specks then you can pull up basic specs in  Settings > System > About (This is to find RAM and Processor specs). For the dxdiag file you keep seeing attached, this can found by going to your windows search bar and typing "dxdiag"

Click the program and let the green bar fill in the bottom left. once full press "Save All Information" to create a file and attach it to your thread through "choose file"

I know I said I'm not tech savvy but I mean that in sense that I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to my game not working. Also, don't worry about not knowing some of this stuff since it really down take time to understand lol...

@jborbs22  There is a program included with the Windows operating system called dxdaig. Just search for it. You may be asked to attach the txt file cratered by dxdiag to your answer in this forum. This will tell you most what you need to start to  troubleshoot your computer. There is another program you can download off the internet (free) called CPU-Z that provides a lot of information about you cpu, motherboard, gpu, and memory.

@Dr_Houdini  The first thing to check with a new computer with TS3 is to verify .net framework is enabled in Windows features. Go to the control panel - turn Windows features on or off and make sure .net framework is checked. This is not always enable on a new install. Just search for Turn Windows features on or off. first line should be .net framework 3.5. If the box is not check - click the box.  Then in the bottom right click ok. Let the computer do it's thing. When finished reboot the computer. Try game. Only TS# needs .net framework - TS4 does not.

@Dr_Houdini  The Sims 3 crashes in your dxdiag could be related to the graphics driver, but there could also be an innocuous explanation.  Please try forcing the game to launch in windowed mode.  Go into Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, open options.ini, search for fullscreen , and set it to 0 (zero).  If this works, you can go back to fullscreen at the Main Menu, but at the same time, change the in-game resolution to 1920x1080 to match your monitors.

If that doesn't help, please do a clean uninstall and reinstall of the graphics driver, as described here:

https://crinrict.com/blog/2019/02/clean-re-install-of-graphics-drivers-with-display-driver-uninstaller-ddu.html

You can get the newest Nvidia driver here:

https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/209266/en-us/

Run the installer as an admin: right-click the download and select "Run as administrator."  Restart your computer after installing and before trying to play.  Also, if it doesn't work, try forcing windowed mode again.  Sims 3 will detect a different driver version and reset options.ini, undoing the change you made previously.

The purpose of moving and renaming the Sims 3 user folder was to prevent Revo from deleting it.  That's only relevant when you have saves or other content you'd like to preserve, but better to mention it when it's not necessary than to have someone inadvertently delete their saves.

@jborbs22  I would very much like to see a dxdiag.  Please follow the instructions earlier in the thread.

@roberta591  As always, if .NET Framework 3.5 were not installed, the launcher wouldn't open.  The original poster's launcher does open.  Also, I don't have OneDrive enabled and only get a notification about it after a Windows feature update, which is not really nagging considering how infrequent these updates are.

@puzzlezaddict   This game REQUIRES .net framework to launch. I have read and reread that user's post's and no where does the user say the game actually launched to the welcome screen. In that case I believe that starting to check the basics is in order. I really wish you would stop correcting me so I have to wasting my time justifying my posts. THAT IS RUDE!

Device name MSI
Processor 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12650H 2.30 GHz
Installed RAM 8.00 GB (7.71 GB usable)
Device ID F92A922D-50AC-4561-AD9D-86CBD3D2FF3C
Product ID 00342-22112-01686-AAOEM
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

My fiance is going to change the RAM to 32 GB when he has time, so for now it's on the lower side apparently. Everything else is pretty solid from what I heard (but what do I know). 

Thank you so much!