Unable to download and install the Sims 4 - download stuck at 2%

Also, for a bit of additional context: 

I have been playing the game for many years now, however, on May 21, 2026 there was a new update. When I tried to update it and start the game, it failed and so I decided to uninstall the game completely and then reinstall it. The game was installed on my external hard drive (D: Drive). When I try to reinstall the game to the external harddrive it keeps getting stuck at 66%. I have tried every suggestion online; I have tried clearing EA cache, uninstalling EA app and reinstalling, uninstalling Microsoft Visual C++ and reinstalling, turning off anti virus and installing, I have even tried putting the EA app on the D drive itself instead of C. Nothing has worked. I dont have enough space to install the game plus all expansions on my C drive / windows. I have 30 gb left on my laptop and it takes 26 gb to install the base game alone. Hence me having used the external hard drive in the past for installation. 

I tried installing base game alone on pc and it worked. so I think the issue lies with trying to install it on my external harddrive. But it has to be installed there because I have no space for the full game on my pc. I even tried formatting the hard drive before and nothing works. 

I am trying to install the game on my external hard drive but when it gets to 66% the attached pop up keeps coming up, the download pauses and it states that the folder doesnt exist...............

I left it to download for a while then it got to 66% and then this attached message came on the screen stating that folder doesnt exist,