Update after full reinstall of game:

I'm now able to fully launch the game. However, when trying to launch the game manually from the steam client or the app on my desktop, it comes up with a new error:

Unable to complete version update.
[30426][19900][740]


I checked around online, and people reported right clicking on the boot config version from the original install folder under C/F drive (whichever the game is installed to) and selecting "open as admin". After a couple attempts, the game works (even though the error pops up once in awhile). For some reason though, the original client version from STEAM and from the desktop are giving that error mentioned otherwise. Odd. I'll have to reboot my network once again and see if this might help resolve it. I'll keep posted on this thread over the next few days.

Any leads as to what could cause the steam client to do this, but the installed version would work at the time?