Thank you for your reply, I was able to find the solution!
The major thing preventing me from running the game was Windows Defender. It was blocking any applications from running. I'm unsure how it got enabled, but I disabled that option. I also was successfully able to take user control over my Documents folder. Apparently I had mixed up "sharing" with the permissions option under the 'security' tag.
Those two things did the trick, and my EA folder was able to fill itself after starting the game. I was even able to get my old save files back. I was very scared I had lost everything and wouldn't be able to play the game, so I am relieved to get this problem sorted out!
Once again, thank you for your prompt response and you time. I really appreciate it
