I keep getting "Error - the system cannot find the file specified."

I consistently get this error for reasons I cannot figure out when trying to open The Sims 4. The repair function in EA does not fix it because of a "permissions error" and apparently EA does not have access to the folder. My files are in the same place they have always been: C:\Users\[my name]\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4. I go through these steps https://help.ea.com/en/help/the-sims/the-sims-4/backing-up-and-resetting-the-sims-4/ still doesn't work. The error continues. I keep doing those troubleshooting steps over and over and over again and eventually it works. Play my game for a while, save and finish playing, try to play again later or another day and the error happens all over again.  No mods should be causing the issue - this has been happening since January, and I only installed mods for the first time ever a few days ago. I truly have no clue what the problem is, so I'm coming here in hopes of solving this for good.

I hope I've posted this in the proper place. Please be patient with me - I'm not the greatest with this kind of stuff!