So I've been having this happen since just before I updated to the current Skyrim version from steam, so it's not directly due to the latest patch.

A full reinstall fixed the problem temporarily, but then the main menu stopped loading again. The only thing I did between the game working and not working was

run the CK to work on a location mod as well as using Wrye Bash to copy my .esp to .esm to avoid the large object LOD issues.

I do have about 85 other mods running, but turning them off in Wrye Bash and in the Skyrim Launcher has no effect, the dragon sigil loads, and then the game

just hangs right at that point, with the main menu never loading.

What's going on in the background at that point that would keep the game from loading further? I almost would think it couldn't be a mod, since none of that data is loaded until the save is loaded?

The odd thing is that I got it working after the first time this problem appeared by doing a full reinstall, and was running fine with all my mods, even the one I was making myself....then the main menu just decided to stop loading again.

Could this be a CK problem, since that was really the only thing that made changes between working and not working?

Don't wanna hafta do another full reinstall if this is gonna keep cropping up like this...any Ideas on where to look for a solution?

Updated to the current beta release on steam, as well as the corresponding SKSE release, and still no main menu on load.

There seems to be no logic to this pattern, and the standard troubleshooting procedures are not having any effect.

What is it about a full reinstall that fixes this, and how can I keep it from just happening again anyway (like it has been).

no one? am I not providing enough information? I'm the ONLY person who's ever even HEARD of this problem?

You do get the Dragon logo on a black screen?....you say it hangs.....

Do you usually force new INI files (delete old and game make new ones), and are you using the SKSE launcher to start the game, Try to "Verify files" with steam before any reinstall.

If skyrim were to give me problems the first thing I would do is scrap a few files...(delete)
Skyrim.exe
Skyrim.INI
Skyrimlauncher.exe
Skyrimpref.ini

These are small and Steam can and HAS seen the presence of one of the above files and wont get new ones EVEN if the file was bad. So only way to FORCE steam into getting you the files you need, is to hide (delete) a few Important files.