Game Won't Open - Shortly After Gorgeous Update

My symptom:

Previous Symptom:

Open NS2 from Steam,
The mouse spins...
...NS2 doesn't launch.

One time, I did get a message, seemingly randomly after many launch tries:
Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Users\Anthraxmonki\AppData\Local\Temp\WERD7DF.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
C:\Users\Anthraxmonki\AppData\Local\Temp\WEREEAA.tmp.appcompat.txt
C:\Users\Anthraxmonki\AppData\Local\Temp\WERF1F6.tmp.mdmp

But, I can't find these temp files anywhere -- and I have can view hidden folders in the directory.
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My Current Symptom:

Open NS2 from Steam,
The mouse spins...
...
NS2 doesn't launch.

I get a message:
Application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000005)

My Event Viewer shows:

Faulting application name: ns2.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x514a456e
Faulting module name: unknown, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x00000000
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x513b5a82
Faulting process id: 0x1f04
Faulting application start time: 0x01ce25e8c3a14dab
Faulting application path: H:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Natural Selection 2\ns2.exe
Faulting module path: unknown


Faulting application name: ns2.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x514a456e
Faulting module name: unknown, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x00000000
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x513b5a82
Faulting process id: 0x1ee0
Faulting application start time: 0x01ce25e8af8c04a3
Faulting application path: H:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Natural Selection 2\ns2.exe
Faulting module path: unknown
Report Id: edfcb55b-91db-11e2-8d27-bc5ff4467a4b


Faulting application name: ns2.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x514a456e
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7600.16695, time stamp: 0x4cc7ab86
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x00046892
Faulting process id: 0x12f0
Faulting application start time: 0x01ce25e2dae3ed0f
Faulting application path: H:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Natural Selection 2\ns2.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
Report Id: 197c71ad-91d6-11e2-8d27-bc5ff4467a4b


Faulting application name: ns2.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x514a456e
Faulting module name: d3dx9_42.dll, version: 9.27.952.3001, time stamp: 0x4a6d13bb
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x00000005
Faulting process id: 0xe90
Faulting application start time: 0x01ce25e0d76ca06d
Faulting application path: H:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Natural Selection 2\ns2.exe
Faulting module path: H:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Natural Selection 2\d3dx9_42.dll
Report Id: 15223bc8-91d4-11e2-8d27-bc5ff4467a4b


I looked up Exception code: 0xc0000005 and d3dx9_42.dll.
Installed the DirectX version included with NS2, and now I get the ntdll.dll and the module name unknown; most recent error listed first.
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I've been dealing with the Game Won't Open issue for a couple weeks now. At least it feels like a couple weeks. Sorry for the approximation.
NS2 has been running fine since Christmas; when I started playing.


Here is the troubleshooting I remember I have tried:

Verify integrity of game cache (Steam)
Opted out of Betas (Steam)
Reinstalled Direct X via redist folder
Deleted the Shader folder - re-verified integrity of game cache
Updated video card to latest drivers.
Updated video card to latest beta drivers.
Rolled back video card drivers.
Uninstalled/Reinstalled NS2
Uninstalled NS2 - Manually deleted leftover artifacts (%appdata% NaturalSelection2 folder) - Then reinstalled


The very last option worked twice in a row.
Unistall NS2.
Delete All folders pertaining to NS2.
Reinstall NS2
The game will run on its first launch

Notes about the complete uninstall though:

-After the first launch, when I tried to play again, (same session or restart, verify integrity, etc.), when I tried to play again,
NS2 failed to load, as described (sits & spins).
-- After the second Uninstall/reinstall, the initial launch worked again. And again, all consecutive launches failed.
-- That is, until I rolled back my video card's driver via Windows 7 device manager. I was then able to run NS2 again (on the second un/re-install).
--- I played a good bit without error, downloaded some Steam NS2 mods, and tried them out using the NS2 Mod-Menu restart function. [I'm using the Tron v1.0 Orange Skulk and the E_X_M(?) & E_X_M(?) Hands, and the game looks like Tron - Orange vs Blue -- and /w the Holo-Shotgun; it's all super sweet, but, I digress]
--- I closed the game completely, updated, played a bit more, then called it a night.
---- I come back to play today, Steam/NS2 downloaded another update, and now the game sits and spins again... =(
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My dxdiag is attached.




-Thank You-, for taking the time to read this and considering to help.