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supermad09's avatar
supermad09
New Novice
10 months ago

Re: [CURRENT ISSUE] Sims 4 Unable to Start, Initialization Error

I have been receiving the following error for MONTHS upon starting The SIms 4

Sims 4 unable to start initialization error at start up [135dec40:598068e4:00000078:37b26003 135dec40:598068e4:00000078:37b26003]

I have removed all Mods and CC, repaired the game, reinstalled the game, turned off my cloud file backup, checked that my security wasn't blocking the app from starting, etc. 

I'm wondering if it's thinking I have a second display, as sometimes when trying to troubleshoot it will say the game is still open even when it isn't. I looked on my settings and it only detects one monitor, which makes sense as I'm on a laptop. 

Any advice? I haven't played sims in so long and I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. 

3 Replies

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    10 months ago

    @supermad09  When you disabled cloud backup, that means OneDrive, right?  Is your Documents directory still in OneDrive?  I ask because the initialization error and the already running error are both permissions issues, i.e. the game can't properly access the user folder in Documents > Electronic Arts.  Sims 4 uses the Windows account's Documents directory if it can.

    To be clear, your computer will have several Documents folders, but only one per account is designated as the directory.  To find that location, search in Windows for Command Prompt, open it, and enter this command, starting with reg query:

    reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders" /v "Personal"

    If you see OneDrive in the path, here's how to fix it (use the steps after the command above):

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-saves-user-content-disappearing-PC/m-p/12475370#Remove

    If you see a different location and would like to change it anyway, the registry edit will still help.  But feel free to ask for advice before going that route.

    If this doesn't help, please try the other suggestions in the master thread for the already running error:

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-already-running/m-p/13276380

  • supermad09's avatar
    supermad09
    New Novice
    10 months ago
    @puzzlezaddict Does this look correct then? HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
    Personal REG_SZ C:\Users\(myusername)\Documents
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    10 months ago

    @supermad09  That looks fine.  Did the suggestions in the related master thread help?  If not, let me know, and we can try other troubleshooting.

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