Cheers Vapour, and thanks for your involvement matey.
I think it’s more of a workaround than a solution, but at least I’m able to once again enjoy the game. I was starting to doubt that would ever happen 
Sadly, the Techie in me feels completely unsatisfied. I do hate an unsolved technical mystery. Still, I won’t be installing/uninstalling several hundred programs just to find the culprit. Even I’m not that obsessed… (or am I ? )