Black Screen On Start

After the latest patch/update, every time I start the game, when pressing "Start", I have 50/50 chance of it loading normally. Half the times the game will produce a black screen and the system will hang for ever. Cold reboot is the only thing that can revive it.

I tried re-installing, by using the latest updated installer of the game (1069?) but the same thing happens. It doesn't seem to be system/windows based specific since the same happens with my laptop. Both systems have Windows XP SP3 with latest updates. Latest driver packages and I even turn-off the antivirus every time before I start the game (Avast Free Version).

Still, it's like there are times the game simply doesn't wish to start at all.

Only thing I managed to notice (since I don't even get an error msg) is that when I get the black screen, I can notice on the tray a square icon performin a search-like animation with a magnifying glass ? When the system hangs it hangs as well ofc... I think it might be the gameguard tool ?

Anyhoo, hope for some insight. Tbh I do think it has sth to do with how my PC's connect with the CrossFire servers. Sth isn't liked from their side, so my client freezes.