"The process could not be started!" error

I'm running the base game retail (region 1) and the reloaded version of WA (region 2). I patched, had an issue of not realizing that I could patch my base game without uninstalling WA, and so had uninstalled WA. I patched my base game, reinstalled WA, patched the original exe, switched to the crack, put in the framework including the new awesomemod, and went to start the game. I had launcher freezes, which seem to have resolved themselves. The framework seems to be working properly because I'm not getting a no disk warning with awesomemod in my packages folder. All I get is "the process could not be started" whether I try to launch from the launcher OR the cracked exe. I've used this particular WA download before with no problems, but I've gone through two re-installs of WA with the same result. Google isn't telling me a whole lot, except to check my properties and make sure that things are targeted to the right exe - but if I'm hand-selecting the file I want to run, that shouldn't be an issue, right?

Help is appreciated. I haven't tried to reinstall the base game as well, I'm trying to avoid that if possible.

Edit:

I went through a complete uninstall of the base game and WA, patched completely using the launcher to patch the base game and the downloaded patch from Mod the Sims. Still having the error. I'm guessing this is a problem with the patch?

Update:
The non-cracked WA exe will run the game, but the cracked exe will not. What damage am I doing if I run the game with out the crack?