Tip for hanging during load
 

When the bar is full when launching the game, and it just hangs, hit ALT+TAB, that should bring you to the error message that has popped up behind your loading game. You can then OK the message and it will kick you out.

One of your mods (in my case it was the Resized Chrono mod) that caused the problem. The file that that mod uses has a reference to a menu id that nolonger exists in 1.2. Other mods may have the same issue.

Try disabling all mods, then reenabling one by one until it crashes again. That will be the mod that is causing the problem.

Hope this helps.

But I'm not using any mods...erased everything from all folders including my documents, but it's still hanging up there.

After reinstalling the game did you install both patches or just the 1.2?
I installed only 1.2 and my game works.

I've tried it both ways.

Sorry for your trouble, I don't know what to say except that it sounds like you
have a stray file somewhere causing problems, normally a clean install fixes all.