HGWC Step 13

As I start the game, HGWC loads up until step 13 and then the game just doesn't load. Windows event logger says its 'Faulting application name: HGWC.exe, version: 1.8.5.106, time stamp: 0x5a20a69b' with event ID 1000. I've tried everything. Reinstalling the game multiple times, redownloading without firewall or antivirus... Put CF in my antivirus exceptions and firewall exceptions... forwarded ports.. did a system scan on faults.. did a .NET reinstall... did a net winsock reset (which made the game load once and then never again). Could someone please give me some help here?