Game becomes non-responsive on title splash page

I don't know if anyone else is having this or if it's just me - but whenever I try to boot up COH, the game freezes the instant it hits Penny Yin vs Shadowhunter.

This hasn't been a problem until today specifically - so it's not the latest COH patch or anything.

Things I've done to try to address the issue:

Restarted Steam
Rebooted the system
Reinstalled the game
Re-verified the files through Steam
'Repaired' the installation with COH's tools

I've tried all that and nothing. I'm just absolutely baffled as to what's going on. None of my other games are doing this either it's just COH.

*Edit*

Forgot to add this, in case it's useful >< -

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---

DxDiag gathered at June 22, 2012 20:52 (-05:00)
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Basic (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.120402-0336)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 11/20/07 22:03:53 Ver: 08.00.12
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6750 @ 2.66GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 3582MB
.Net Memory Report: 2207MB out of 3582MB available
Page File: 5593MB (1779MB currently in use)
C Drive: (Hitachi HDT725032VLA360 ATA Device) 41815MB out of 305242MB (13%) free
D Drive: (WD Elements 1023 USB Device) 923770MB out of 953865MB (96%) free
F Drive: (ZF3901W FHN555K SCSI CdRom Device) zero-size drive
G Drive: (ZF3901W FHN555K SCSI CdRom Device) zero-size drive
H Drive: (ZF3901W FHN555K SCSI CdRom Device) zero-size drive
I Drive: (ZF3901W FHN555K SCSI CdRom Device) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 11
DirectX Diag version: 7.00.6002.18107 (32-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Generic Non-PnP Monitor
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce GTS 250
Video Memory: 2033 MB
Driver Version: 8.17.0012.9610
Driver Date: 2/29/2012 6:59:00 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHDA.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6013
Driver Date: 12/25/2009 7:28:34 PM

Sound Device Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHDA.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6013
Driver Date: 12/25/2009 7:28:34 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: P5KPL-VM
Motherboard Version: x.xx
BIOS Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc.
BIOS Name: BIOS Date: 11/20/07 22:03:53 Ver: 08.00.12
BIOS Version: A_M_I_ - 11000720
BIOS Release: 20071120000000.000000+000


Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1664x1014
3D Resolution: 1664x1008 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: No
Maximized: No
Screen Position: Unknown, Unknown
Refresh Rate: UnknownHz
Vertical Sync Enabled: No


Physics Quality: Unknown (2147483647)
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No


Anti-aliasing: Unknown (2147483647)
Anisotropic Filtering: Unknown (2147483647)
Texture LOD Bias: Unknown (2147483647)
Water Effects: Unknown (2147483647)
Bloom: 1.000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: No
Shader Detail: Unknown (2147483647)


World Texture Level: Unknown (2147483647)
Character Texture Level: Unknown (2147483647)
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 1.000
Entity Detail Level: 1.000
Shadows Enabled: No
Shadow Mode: Unknown (2147483647)
Shadow Map Shader: Unknown (2147483647)
Environmental Reflections: Unknonwn (2147483647)
Advanced Occlusion Settings: No
Ambient Occlusion: High quality
Occlusion Strength: Unknonwn (2147483647)
Blur: Unknonwn (2147483647)
Ambient Resolution: Unknonwn (2147483647)


Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: No
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 0.099
Music Sound Volume: 0.105

Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 1.000
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 2103780 bytes/second
Current Game Version: ?
Installation Directory: c:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\city of heroes going rogue

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found


Anyone got any ideas?
*I bought Going Rogue via Steam when it came out; so I've been having no problem playing COH through it since then.

D'oh... I knew I forgot something ><; I ran it as admin this time ><;;


---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---

DxDiag gathered at June 22, 2012 23:37 (-05:00)
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Basic (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.120402-0336)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 11/20/07 22:03:53 Ver: 08.00.12
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E6750 @ 2.66GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 3582MB
.Net Memory Report: 2036MB out of 3582MB available
Page File: 5480MB (1916MB currently in use)
C Drive: (Hitachi HDT725032VLA360 ATA Device) 45764MB out of 305242MB (14%) free
D Drive: (WD Elements 1023 USB Device) 923770MB out of 953865MB (96%) free
F Drive: (ZF3901W FHN555K SCSI CdRom Device) zero-size drive
G Drive: (ZF3901W FHN555K SCSI CdRom Device) zero-size drive
H Drive: (ZF3901W FHN555K SCSI CdRom Device) zero-size drive
I Drive: (ZF3901W FHN555K SCSI CdRom Device) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 11
DirectX Diag version: 7.00.6002.18107 (32-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Generic Non-PnP Monitor
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce GTS 250
Video Memory: 2033 MB
Driver Version: 8.17.0012.9610
Driver Date: 2/29/2012 6:59:00 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHDA.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6013
Driver Date: 12/25/2009 7:28:34 PM

Sound Device Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHDA.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6013
Driver Date: 12/25/2009 7:28:34 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: P5KPL-VM
Motherboard Version: x.xx
BIOS Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc.
BIOS Name: BIOS Date: 11/20/07 22:03:53 Ver: 08.00.12
BIOS Version: A_M_I_ - 11000720
BIOS Release: 20071120000000.000000+000


Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1664x1014
3D Resolution: 1664x1008 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: No
Maximized: No
Screen Position: Unknown, Unknown
Refresh Rate: UnknownHz
Vertical Sync Enabled: No


Physics Quality: Unknown (2147483647)
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No


Anti-aliasing: Unknown (2147483647)
Anisotropic Filtering: Unknown (2147483647)
Texture LOD Bias: Unknown (2147483647)
Water Effects: Unknown (2147483647)
Bloom: 1.000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: No
Shader Detail: Unknown (2147483647)


World Texture Level: Unknown (2147483647)
Character Texture Level: Unknown (2147483647)
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 1.000
Entity Detail Level: 1.000
Shadows Enabled: No
Shadow Mode: Unknown (2147483647)
Shadow Map Shader: Unknown (2147483647)
Environmental Reflections: Unknonwn (2147483647)
Advanced Occlusion Settings: No
Ambient Occlusion: High quality
Occlusion Strength: Unknonwn (2147483647)
Blur: Unknonwn (2147483647)
Ambient Resolution: Unknonwn (2147483647)


Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: No
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 0.099
Music Sound Volume: 0.105

Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 1.000
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 2103780 bytes/second
Current Game Version: ?
Installation Directory: c:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\city of heroes going rogue

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found

---

Looks like a fair few unknowns still.

HijackThis -

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 11:50:23 PM, on 6/22/2012
Platform: Windows Vista SP2 (WinNT 6.00.1906)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.19272)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RtHDVCpl.exe
C:\Program Files\DivX\DivX Update\DivXUpdate.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Display\nvtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Ask.com\Updater\Updater.exe
C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Lite\daemon.exe
C:\Users\user\Program Files\DNA\btdna.exe
C:\Windows\System32\p2phost.exe
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Akamai\netsession_win. exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox. exe
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Akamai\netsession_win. exe
C:\Program Files\Tablet\Wacom\Wacom_TabletUser.exe
C:\Windows\system32\wbem\unsecapp.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox3.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG Secure Search\vprot.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe
C:\Users\user\Downloads\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://search.conduit.com?SearchSour...ctid=CT2790392
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings,ProxyServer = http=127.0.0.1:50370
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings,ProxyOverride = 127.0.0.1:9421;<local>
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
R3 - URLSearchHook: UrlSearchHook Class - {00000000-6E41-4FD3-8538-502F5495E5FC} - C:\Program Files\Ask.com\GenericAskToolbar.dll
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {A3BC75A2-1F87-4686-AA43-5347D756017C} - (no file)
R3 - URLSearchHook: AIM Toolbar Search Class - {03402f96-3dc7-4285-bc50-9e81fefafe43} - C:\Program Files\AIM Toolbar\aimtb.dll
R3 - URLSearchHook: Winamp Search Class - {57BCA5FA-5DBB-45a2-B558-1755C3F6253B} - C:\Program Files\Winamp Toolbar\winamptb.dll
R3 - URLSearchHook: BitTorrentBar Toolbar - {88c7f2aa-f93f-432c-8f0e-b7d85967a527} - C:\Program Files\BitTorrentBar\prxtbBit2.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Winamp Toolbar Loader - {25CEE8EC-5730-41bc-8B58-22DDC8AB8C20} - C:\Program Files\Winamp Toolbar\winamptb.dll
O2 - BHO: RealPlayer Download and Record Plugin for Internet Explorer - {3049C3E9-B461-4BC5-8870-4C09146192CA} - C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\rpbrowserrecordplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: BitTorrentBar - {88c7f2aa-f93f-432c-8f0e-b7d85967a527} - C:\Program Files\BitTorrentBar\prxtbBit2.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: AVG Security Toolbar - {95B7759C-8C7F-4BF1-B163-73684A933233} - C:\Program Files\AVG Secure Search\11.1.0.7\AVG Secure Search_toolbar.dll
O2 - BHO: AIM Toolbar Loader - {b0cda128-b425-4eef-a174-61a11ac5dbf8} - C:\Program Files\AIM Toolbar\aimtb.dll
O2 - BHO: Ask Toolbar BHO - {D4027C7F-154A-4066-A1AD-4243D8127440} - C:\Program Files\Ask.com\GenericAskToolbar.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Winamp Toolbar - {EBF2BA02-9094-4c5a-858B-BB198F3D8DE2} - C:\Program Files\Winamp Toolbar\winamptb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AIM Toolbar - {61539ecd-cc67-4437-a03c-9aaccbd14326} - C:\Program Files\AIM Toolbar\aimtb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {CCC7A320-B3CA-4199-B1A6-9F516DD69829} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: BitTorrentBar Toolbar - {88c7f2aa-f93f-432c-8f0e-b7d85967a527} - C:\Program Files\BitTorrentBar\prxtbBit2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AVG Security Toolbar - {95B7759C-8C7F-4BF1-B163-73684A933233} - C:\Program Files\AVG Secure Search\11.1.0.7\AVG Secure Search_toolbar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Ask Toolbar - {D4027C7F-154A-4066-A1AD-4243D8127440} - C:\Program Files\Ask.com\GenericAskToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Uninstall0001] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Totem Shared\Uninstall0001\upd.exe" LASTCALL!adverts.mp3dancer.com!StatsMP3Dancer
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "C:\Program Files\Winamp\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Turbine Download Manager Tray Icon] "C:\Program Files\Turbine\Turbine Download Manager - Lamannia\TurbineDownloadManagerIcon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RtHDVCpl] C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RtHDVCpl.exe -s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DivXUpdate] "C:\Program Files\DivX\DivX Update\DivXUpdate.exe" /CHECKNOW
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_TRAY] "C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgtray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [vProt] "C:\Program Files\AVG Secure Search\vprot.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ROC_roc_dec12] "C:\Program Files\AVG Secure Search\ROC_roc_dec12.exe" /PROMPT /CMPID=roc_dec12
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ApnUpdater] "C:\Program Files\Ask.com\Updater\Updater.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools Lite] "C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Lite\daemon.exe" -autorun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [BitTorrent DNA] "C:\Users\user\Program Files\DNA\btdna.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [EA Core] "C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EADM\Core.exe" -silent
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CollaborationHost] C:\Windows\system32\p2phost.exe -s
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NAPSures] rundll32 "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\mobs_ssp.dll",Dl lEntryPoint
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Steam] "C:\Program Files\Steam\steam.exe" -silent
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Akamai NetSession Interface] "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Akamai\netsession_win .exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WMPNSCFG] C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\WMPNSCFG.exe
O4 - Startup: Dropbox.lnk = user\AppData\Roaming\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe
O4 - Startup: Xfire.lnk = C:\Program Files\Xfire\xfire.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AIM Toolbar Search - C:\ProgramData\AIM Toolbar\ieToolbar\resources\en-US\local\search.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Winamp Search - C:\ProgramData\Winamp Toolbar\ieToolbar\resources\en-US\local\search.html
O9 - Extra button: AIM Toolbar - {0b83c99c-1efa-4259-858f-bcb33e007a5b} - C:\Program Files\AIM Toolbar\aimtb.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.clonewarsadventures.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.freerealms.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.soe.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.sony.com
O15 - Trusted IP range: http://192.168.1.1
O15 - ESC Trusted IP range: http://192.168.1.1
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (Installation Support) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\Yinsthelper.dll
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgpp.dll
O18 - Protocol: viprotocol - {B658800C-F66E-4EF3-AB85-6C0C227862A9} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AVG Secure Search\ViProtocolInstaller\11.1.0\ViProtocol.dll
O18 - Protocol: wlpg - {E43EF6CD-A37A-4A9B-9E6F-83F89B8E6324} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Photo Gallery\AlbumDownloadProtocolHandler.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\Windows\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: ANAYWM - Unknown owner - C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\ANAYWM.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: AVG Security Toolbar Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG10\Toolbar\ToolbarBroker.exe
O23 - Service: AVGIDSAgent - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\AVGIDSAgent.exe
O23 - Service: AVG WatchDog (avgwd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG2012\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Dragon Age: Origins - Content Updater (DAUpdaterSvc) - Unknown owner - c:\program files\steam\steamapps\common\dragon age origins\bin_ship\DAUpdaterSvc.Service.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1150\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Mozilla Maintenance Service (MozillaMaintenance) - Mozilla Foundation - C:\Program Files\Mozilla Maintenance Service\maintenanceservice.exe
O23 - Service: nProtect GameGuard Service (npggsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\GameMon.des.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: npkcmsvc - INCA Internet Co., Ltd. - C:\Nexon\Mabinogi\npkcmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Update Service Daemon (nvUpdatusService) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NVIDIA Update Core\daemonu.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
O23 - Service: Turbine Message Service - PublicPreview (PublicPreviewTurbineMessageService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Turbine\Turbine Download Manager - Lamannia\TurbineMessageService.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Turbine Network Service - PublicPreview (PublicPreviewTurbineNetworkService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Turbine\Turbine Download Manager - Lamannia\TurbineNetworkService.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Steam Client Service - Valve Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Steam\SteamService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver Service (Stereo Service) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\3D Vision\nvSCPAPISvr.exe
O23 - Service: TabletServiceWacom - Wacom Technology, Corp. - C:\Program Files\Tablet\Wacom\Wacom_Tablet.exe
O23 - Service: vToolbarUpdater11.1.0 - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AVG Secure Search\vToolbarUpdater\11.1.0\ToolbarUpdater.exe

--
End of file - 11239 bytes

---

As to the settings button: Sadly I can't get to it. What happens is, I start the game, the launcher comes up, it runs through the 'checking for patch' procedure, launches the game, and either there's a black screen or the screen of Penny Yin vs Shadowhunter - but either way it's frozen solid at that point. The stuff on the side, login, password and all that, doesn't come up at all.

Ambient Occlusion is probably on though, since I run in ultra-mode.

It's strange though - I've never, ever, ever had a problem like this before, not even when my PC had an older graphics card and couldn't run ultramode without major hiccups.

Appreciate the help, thank you.

*Edit* Looking through HijackThis - I notice some of those are very old programs, some of which have long been uninstalled <o.@> Why are they there? Others, like the toolbars, shouldn't be there either as I'm quite certain I declined to install them when given the opportunity. I doubt that has anything to do with it, since today/yesterday is the first time this has ever happened, but maybe it's relevant ><

Just an update -

I think I have it narrowed down to Steam as the point of failure. I don't know what's changed, but I can launch the game outside of steam just fine - my guess is this means it's something to do with the Steam Overlay functionality.

So I'm going to move my installation and try that.

Yeah, I had the same problem. If you disable the Steam Overlay, it works fine.

Son of a monkey *****.

Had this same problem come up this morning. Why would steam suddenly become a problem...?

I have no idea Satanic Hamster, it was just all of the sudden *BAM* suddenly it doesn't work.

Now that I've moved the installation though, everything is fine. I don't even pretend to understand what's wrong though. Hrm... anyone remember when Steam's last update was? Maybe it's on their end?

iirc, there was one a week ago or so.

I'll leave the Steam discussion to you folks that use it.

Since the CoH Helper is still showing all of the Unknown entries it means something on the computer is blocking CoH Helper from accessing all of the registry settings. My suspicion would be that one of the AVG components is doing it. One way to test it would be to temporarily disable AVG completely, run CoH Helper again and paste the results into Notepad. Look at it and see if the Unknown entries are still there. If they are still there, it is something else blocking it. If they are gone, it means it was being blocked by AVG and you'd be able to post the full CoH Helper output before turning AVG back on.

Also, if there are things showing in the HJT log that you got rid of or explicitly told it not to install (like the toolbars) my recommendation would be to double-check the Programs and Features in Control Panel and uninstall any of them you find there. After a reboot, fire up HJT again and this time if you see any remnants of those programs in the HJT log put a checkmark in the box beside it, go through the whole log that way looking for remnants, and then click the Fix Checked button. It should remove those entries. Just make sure of what you are removing to be sure it isn't a needed component of another program.

If you are able to get back into the game, I'd still recommend disabling Ambient Occlusion completely. It's more load on the system than what it is worth in my view. Several have reported it having negative impacts on frame rates.

@Satanic Hamster - Hrm, a week ago... I'd played since then so I guess it's (probably) not that. Weird.

@Texas_Justice - Thanks again for the help; I'll keep that all in mind < . .>b

Freezes up with steam running on splash screen. If I turn off steam then relaunch it after I'm already in game? No problems.