My game is completely broken..

Mysticelfje wrote:I'll start with my current issue, then explain how I got here. 
My game gives an 'initialization failed' error upon starting. It also gives an error message when I attempt to uninstall. Manually I was able to uninstall all the expansion packs but not the base game. I removed all the maps and registry keys for it and then attempted to reinstall it (with a storebought cd) but an error pops up stating it is incompatible with the installed patch. So basically I am stuck.

I have done a registry and system clean, I have done a backup recovery to two different dates where the game still worked fine. No luck.
I have taken the packages folder out, taken the entire mods folder out, reinstalled all the important mods, cleared all the caches. No luck.
I also got rid of the corrupted save game (see below). No luck there either.

More details:
The game ran fine on my computer, specs are definitely not the problem. I have the base game on cd and 3 expansion packs that I purchased through Origin (Ambitions, Pets, and Supernatural). A few months back I installed all other expansion packs from here. They all worked fine, including Island Paradise. I also downloaded a bunch of items from moreawesomethanyou - all also worked as they should.

The problems started yesterday when my game (on IP) crashed twice when entering buy mode. This morning I could start the game but when I attempted to play either that saved game or start a new game on IP it crashed. I then uninstalled and reinstalled IP (after checking it was not a mod-related issue) but to no avail. I then accidentally (but, ironically, succesfully) uninstalled all games - so including the base game. But then (mistake?) I used system recovery thinking that if I went back to a date the game still worked I wouldn't have to install them all over again..

So now I cannot play and I cannot uninstall. Even though it was all working fine two days ago. Can you help me fix this?

Mysticelfje wrote:Thanks! With the uninstaller you suggested I was able to succesfully uninstall the game completely. I then ran the disk cleaner function and a virus scan, then reinstalled the base game. It installed correctly and the launcher opened and installed the latest patch. But now the launcher gives an error and when I attempt to start the game directly I still get the 'initialization failed' error! Even though this is only the base game, installed from a cd.

Mysticelfje wrote:But..this is a legal version. Storebought cd. And it is all I have installed now. I uninstalled and reinstalled again and it worked fine without the patch - installed the patch (through the launcher) and it gives the error again.

Mysticelfje wrote:I'm not getting you. I have the base game on an official, storebought cd. It works after I install it, then I let the launcher download the patch and it doesn't work anymore. I have no idea why I should need several downloads to make a legal version of the game work properly. 

I do intend eventually to download all the expansion packs again, but I'm not doing that when my game is already broken. I know how to correctly install those downloaded expansion packs and use the ultimate fix and so on, I did that before without problems.

My issue right now is that I have an official base game with an official patch update that refuses to work, and I don't see why I would need unofficial downloads to fix that..

(I do appreciate you helping! I'm just not understanding you right now, is all)