thanks @crinrict I hadn't considered the AV - its Sophos (daily updated) but nothings changed on the system since I last played the game. I've just updated the Nvidia drivers and I can't open the game using the Nvidia experience because it's now an unrecognised game and it wants the serial number - I've 32 eps etc and i've long since lost the origin email with that info. So next i think I'll reinstall origin - but if that doesn't work I am done
@reboot2019 Sophos is known to block the updated exe. So if you patched, Sophos now thinks it's a virus.
Here's instructions: https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-doesn-t-start-No-Error-Message-Patch-1-68/td-p/9734045
You can also try this: https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Fresh-Install-wont-boot-game/m-p/9778889
thanks @crinrict and big thanks to @gratsoy - working again
