Launcher error: "there was an error during startup, see the log for details"

[SingingToAnOcean]

I've been having the version 0.0.0.0 issue for the past few days. It started after I uninstalled and reinstalled everything because my game would just go to a black screen after pressing play in the launcher, and then it would stop responding. Last time I had that issue, it resolved itself after reinstalling the game. This time however, I would get this error after reinstalling and patching everything. If I ran the base game without patching, everything worked fine. Once I patched it though, I would get “error during startup, see log for more details,” then it shows the version as 0.0.0.0 and my only option is to close the launcher. I have all the EPs(discs) and I also have Outdoor Living and HELS (downloaded) I haven't had this issue until now.

I have tried everything I could find here on the forums, on the wiki, on EA's help pages, on the official Sims forums, and I've also talked to EA's help though their chat twice. Nothing has helped or worked at all, I still end up with the same error.

I have uninstalled using Revo Uninstaller and have also cleaned the registry with Ccleaner too. I have uninstalled and reinstalled Origin. I have tried to update, and then bypass the launcher, I have tried updating the base game and the installing the Eps and I have also tried installing the base game and then updating after being prompted when installing an EP. None of these have changed anything.
The only thing that seemed to have any significance was manually installing every patch. Except this only worked up to 1.8.25.003017. When I was manually installing each patch incrementally, I tested the game after each patch. Everything ran smoothly until I installed patch 1.8, after this patch I would get the same error once again.

If it helps, my specs are:
System:
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Aspire M7720
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 12288MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 12280MB RAM
Page File: 4712MB used, 19844MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 11

Display:
Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9442)
Display Memory: 2796 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1008 MB
Shared Memory: 1787 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Driver Version: 8.850.0.0
DDI Version: 10.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail


Sound Devices:
Description: Digital Audio (HDMI) (High Definition Audio Device)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10250198&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Type: WDM
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Driver Version: 6.01.7601.17514 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes

Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives:
Drive: C:
Free Space: 101.5 GB
Total Space: 469.5 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: Hitachi HDT721010SLA360 ATA Device

Drive: F:
Model: ATAPI DVD A DH16A6S ATA Device
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7601.17514 (English), , 0 bytes

[SingingToAnOcean]

Anyone have some suggestions?

[ellacharmed]

You didn't state what patch version you're on now.

And the driver date is not posted. Is "Driver Version: 8.850.0.0" equal to Catalyst 11.05? Then this would explain the black screen. You get a black screen crash when starting game via Launcher and when bypassing it?
Is the Crashing Checklist one of the Wiki FAQs you read (link is in my signature)? Nothing there helps? The black screen is mentioned in there as pointing to outdated graphics drivers.

It is better not to patch incrementally, there's simply no need. I never get the 0.0.0.0 issue when I just use the SuperPatcher to the current level (whatever that number is), and then install the EPs and SPs after that. But with 1.33 there's some issues with that, so we have a roundabout workaround for it. Q&A for "Issues with 1.3x Superpatcher" wiki FAQ

[SingingToAnOcean]

Driver Date/Size: 4/20/2011 02:07:48, 795648 bytes

When I was looking for the SuperPatcher before, the only link I could find was not working.

My game version is 1.0.631.00001