Failure to launch - frozen golden target

[Spyre]

Hi there.

I just purchased Cliffs of Dover, and installed(downloaded) a fresh copy via steam.

When I attempt to launch the game, I am presented with the golden target sign with the plane in the middle, which does not disappear, but never gets further. I am forced to force close "launcher.exe" in windows task manager after waiting about 5 minutes with nothing happening.

I have read a bunch of posts regarding the launch crosshair crashing(disappearing after launching), but no posts regarding it just hanging at the picture.

I am running:
Cpu: i5 2500k @ 4.5ghz
Video: gtx560ti 1gb - latest nvidia drivers
Mem: 8gb 1600mhz
Windows 7 64bit fully updated

I attempted validating the game cache via steam, and reinstalling dotnet4, which have made no difference. I wanted to attach my dxdiag, but this site limits txt attachment sizes to something smaller than my dxdiag report.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
M

[SlipBall]

A couple of things I would try

use MS anti virus, its free and proven to work with the game
set Steam to off line and test again
check your firewall settings
good luck!

[Spyre]

Thanks for a quick reply.

I use nod32 anti virus, also proven to work with the game.
Tried steam in offline mode, same result.
I assume you mean I should try turning my firewall off? Tried that, and it also gave the same result.

Thanks anyway :(

[autodeath]

An overlay might cause the prevention of initialisation too. At least TS3 overlay does it sometimes.

[GraveyardJimmy]

An overlay might cause the prevention of initialisation too. At least TS3 overlay does it sometimes.

Mumble overlay makes it not start up too.