BATTLETECH - Game doesn't load main menu on startup

[rastro]

One line summary of your issue
Game doesn't load main menu on startup

What platform are you running the game on?
Steam

What operating system do you use?
Windows 10

Which version of the game are you running?
1.9.1

What DLC do you have installed?
Flashpoint, Urban Warfare, Heavy Metal

Please explain your issue is in as much detail as possible.
The game launches the game window, displayed the corporate logos and "powered by unity", but stays on the black loading screen for an indefinite period (at least three hours at one point). On the task manager, there is a "UnityCrashHandler64" under the Battletech name, and digging thorugh the output_log.txt file, I found;
NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
at BattleTech.UI.MainMenu.get_saveStructure () [0x00013] in <4184af8dbeb44635831353f4d349631c>:0
at BattleTech.UI.MainMenu.Update () [0x0001c] in <4184af8dbeb44635831353f4d349631c>:0

(Filename: <4184af8dbeb44635831353f4d349631c> Line: 0)
repeated many many times

Have you tried verifying your files?
Yes

Steps to reproduce the issue
Launching the game causes the issue

Attach DxDiag (PC), System Info log (Mac), or run sudo lshw -html > specs.html and uploaded specs.html (Linux)
File(s) attached

Attach Output Log
Windows: \Users\YourUserName\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH\output_log.txt
Mac OS: Users >{name} > Library > Logs > Unity > Player.log
Linux: ~/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/Player.log
File(s) attached

If the game crashed, please attach the crash file with the time stamp closest to the crash.
Windows: [Steam library folder]\steamapps\common\BATTLETECH\DumpBox
For v.17 and beyond try here: C:\Users\[YourUserName]\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH
OSX: Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > Steam > steamapps > common > BattleTech > DumpBox
Linux: [Steam library folder]/steamapps/common/BATTLETECH/DumpBox
File(s) attached

If a save game was loaded at the start of the game session, upload it. Please make sure to upload the save game with the timestamp closest to when you loaded it.
Windows:
Steam: [Steam installation folder]\userdata[SteamID]\637090\remote\C0\SGS1
GOG: 'C:\Users\USER_ID\AppData\Local\GOG.com\Galaxy\Applications\50593543263669699\Storage\Shared\Files\C#\SGS#'
Vanilla:'C:\Users\USER_ID\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BattleTech\C#\SGS#'
OSX:
Steam: Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > Steam > userdata > [SteamID] > 637090 > remote > C#> SGS#
GOG: Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > GOG.com > Galaxy > Applications > 50593543263669699 > Storage > Shared > Files > C# > SGS#
Vanilla: Macintosh HD > Users > [username]> Library > Application Support > unity.Harebrained Schemes.BattleTech > C# > SGG#
Linux:
Steam: /home/.steam/steam/userdata/[steamID]/637090/remote/C#/SGS#
GOG: /home/[username]/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/remote/C#/SGS#/
Vanilla: /home/[username]/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/remote/C#/SGS#/
File(s) attached

Attach screenshot / video
File(s) attached

 

[AndrewT]

That NullReferenceException error you mention is not in the output log you attached. Can we see that copy of the log please?

 

[rastro]

That NullReferenceException error you mention is not in the output log you attached. Can we see that copy of the log please?

Is this the one you needed?

 

[AndrewT]

InvalidProtocolBufferException: Protocol message contained an invalid tag (zero).
at Google.Protobuf.CodedInputStream.ReadTag () [0x0011b] in <f9cf94bbbfb041d0abe88cee5be00fc7>:0

Please go to C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH\ and delete the profiles.dat file .
Note it may be under Local, LocalLow or Roaming, depending. To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

That will fix that error!

 

[rastro]

That seems to have worked! Thank you very much!