BATTLETECH - Stuck on Refreshing Save Games 100% on First Launch

[McNicol]

One line summary of your issue
Stuck on Refreshing Save Games 100% on First Launch

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?
1.8.1-64OR
What DLC do you have installed?

None

Please explain your issue is in as much detail as possible.
Upon launching the game for the first time after purchase the main menu stays stuck on "Refreshing Save Games 100%". Have tried doing clean install by following instructions on the forum and that didn't fix it. Also tried running as admin and that didn't work either.
Have you tried verifying your files?
Yes

Steps to reproduce the issue
# Launch Game
# Skip Intro Video
# Observe Main Menu

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

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

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

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#/

Attach screenshot / video

 

[AndrewT]

Have tried doing clean install by following instructions on the forum and that didn't fix it.

This issue is known to be caused by any of several antivirus apps. Are you saying you found those threads but that didn't help?

What AV app do you use?

 

[McNicol]

No I didn't find the AV threads. I use Bitdefender.

 

[AndrewT]

That is the most common one - if you search this forum for "BitDefender" you'll find them. The game needs to be in the exceptions list, AND in the separate Safe Files feature.