JunglePredator: Well no one else had any other suggestions on Steam or here so I did try a re-install. I'm no longer getting a pure virtual function call error. Now it just crashes with an "AppCrash" windows generated error message. Bit better... I guess. :-/
Hickory: So I win my bet? :p
For the AppCrash, that could be absolutely anything. First of all you need to be certain not to install the game to a protected folder structure, because Windows and security suites don't like that one bit. You should also take preventative measures, like closing down all unnecessary applications while playing games, or at least while troubleshooting -- other software can often be the cause of 'AppCrash' faults. Now is the time for some detective work on your part. If you need further help, you're going to have to furnish system details, including where the game is installed to.
You win 25% I think.....
As for the rest of it.. I think I have it figured... a bit more testing but it seems to be working off hand (30 second trial so far). Even though I did a complete uninstall, deleting all files & registry entries I could find (following
http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/68591-uninstalling-does-not-uninstall-completely/ ) apparently it doesn't actually remove EVERYTHING. There appears to be something left over.. somewhere.
I did a second reinstall tonight only this time I changed the path... even though I do use UAC & the original install was not in a folder that requires elevation. In fact it's not on a drive that requires elevation & even so I elevated to the administrator/administrator account & it still crashed. However the new install works... & as far as I can tell the only thing different is the path.
Before it was installed in e:\SteamLibrary\blahblahblah & now it's installed to e:\games\... & it now loads to the title screen & exits with out a crash. I have to restore my saved game & run it for awhile but off hand that's looking solved.
---Edit---
Well it still crashes on exit... the same app crash but for now I can load & play my saved game. I had it running for about an hour.
Probably whatever was left over that was causing the problems on the old path... whatever & where ever it is.
I'm also guessing the stupidly long paths aren't helping. The new path is about 20 characters shorter I think.. but I see there's files with paths several directories deeper as well.
Any further ideas are welcome.