Re: The Sims 4 game data is missing or damaged.

@BarbaraMdn  Just to be clear, there's nothing in your Mods folder except the original, game-generated resource.cfg, and simply checking the box to enable mods in-game produces this error?  If that's not correct, please let me know.  And if you modified the resource.cfg, or downloaded a different one, please trash the current Mods folder and let the game generate a new one.

Please also let me know what antivirus you use, if any, and whether you've moved Documents or the Sims 4 user folder to a different location than default.

@BarbaraMdn  How is the external drive formatted?

Please also try undoing the symbolic link you used to move the Electronic Arts folder.  I'm not saying you can't continue to use it, only that this is a useful test.

@BarbaraMdn  Before deleting anything, please post screenshots of the contents of the two Sims 4 folders so I can see what's in them.  The game itself will generate two folders—one for the program files and one for user data—so the fact that you have two on the external drive doesn't necessarily mean they're redundant.

Please also post the full file path to the user folder Sims 4 is actually reading.  Here's how to find it:

https://sims4.crinrict.com/eng/2018/07/how-to-find-your-user-folder/

This is the first one that’s called “The Sims 4”. 

These two are from the second folder called “Sims 4”.  And I don’t know if it’s good that I copy and pasted “Electronic arts” in the second one. Because now when I want to go to to all of those folders on the pictures, I have to click: Sims 4/The Sims 4/Electronic arts/The Sims 4. 

But how do I find the full file path to the user if I can’t open the game because of that message in my original post? Because I already said that I don’t have Electronic Arts in Documents. 

Sorry for late reply. 

@BarbaraMdn  Okay, what I see here is two separate copies of the game's program files, one that's combined with some user data.  Neither is helpful, and the second can be a real problem.  So I think the best approach here is to wipe everything and install fresh.

First, create a folder on your desktop; call it Backup.  (It could be called whatever you want, but this makes it easier for me to describe the process.)  Move the saves, Tray, and Screenshots folders into this Backup folder, plus Mods and Recorded Videos if you have anything in those you'd like to keep.  The game will recreate the other files as necessary.  Then uninstall Sims 4 with Revo Uninstaller:

• Download Revo Uninstaller (the free version is fine) from here.
• Launch Revo, select Sims 4 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 have instructions for that at the moment, but the process should be straightforward.  Restart again when you're done.

Install the EA App, then create a new folder into which you'll install Sims 4.  If you want to install it onto the external again, that's fine; just make sure you're using a new folder you create for this purpose.  Let me know what it's called as well so I can refer to it going forward.

Try to launch the game and let me know whether it works.

@BarbaraMdn  If you don't want any of your previous content at all, then no, you don't need to back up your data.  Just let Revo wipe everything.