SUCCESS, and thanks for all the help!
My computer has a hybrid hard drive: A 512gb SSD and a 3 TB SATA. I had the game located on the SATA, to save space.
I completely got rid of all of the SH5 files on the SATA drive. I reinstalled the Steam game on the SSD. Then I added TWoS to the game. While doing this, I noticed something ... the Steam Patcher came up and gave me a message that I didn't see before, that it had been successful, and I was to close the window.
Then, I finished doing all of the patching, and installed the update.
The moment ...
I started the game. Yep, there was TWoS loading screen. It went blank, and stayed that way for about five minutes. I was convinced that the game wouldn't load. And then ...
Voila! (a little French lingo) ... there was the "Synchronizing Saves with Server" screen. Everything was there -
- Now, as an old man, I'm too tired to start a career! There's always tomorrow.
... and I've still got 127gb on the SSD!
Once again, thanks, Herbmeister (and everyone else). The hint about the Steam Patcher finally took hold, in my old brain, and did the trick.
You will not hear from me, tomorrow. I have Polish ships to kill ...
