Pro tools express 10.3.4 crashes on start up

[Aaron_sfas]

Hi all.

Whenever I try to open ProTools (express 10.3.4), the start-up sequence freezes while loading plugins, before I'm greeted with the following:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: ProToolsExpress.exe
Application Version: 10.3.4.181
Application Timestamp: 514bbb66
Fault Module Name: KERNELBASE.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.1.7601.18409
Fault Module Timestamp: 53159a86
Exception Code: e06d7363
Exception Offset: 0000c42d
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48
Locale ID: 3081
Additional Information 1: cb70
Additional Information 2: cb70fc1260a6e09c67c96546251a8135
Additional Information 3: 4e70
Additional Information 4: 4e70856eea3e8e687010bd0ecb706c9a

If I remove all plugins from the digidesign folder, I am instead greeted with an error message that tells me that hard ware (my Mbox 3) cannot be found, at which point it offers me a 'try again' option, which, of course, doesn't work.

I have tried clean install. But that didn't help. I also, through a torturous, but ultimately fruitful, warranty process upgraded my Mbox mini (where the problem started) to my current Mbox.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. It's been 2 months since I've been able to record anything

Pro Tools Express 10.3.4
Mbox 3

Operating System
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core i5 460M @ 2.53GHz 48 °C
Arrandale 32nm Technology
RAM
8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz (7-7-7-20)
Motherboard
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. QX310/QX410/QX510/SF310/SF410/SF510 (CPU 1) 51 °C
Graphics
Generic PnP Monitor (1366x768@60Hz)
Intel HD Graphics (Samsung)
1024MB NVIDIA GeForce 310M (Samsung)
Storage
465GB Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB ATA Device (SSD) 37 °C
Optical Drives
TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-U633J ATA Device
Audio
Avid Mbox

[Aaron_sfas]

Ok. It does this regardless of whether the Mbox is plugged in... I suppose that rules out the Mbox itself of the usb cable that connects it... seeing as I have clean installed about 5 times now, I'm going to assume that the software is ok too... that leaves something wrong with my Laptop.

I can tell you that this whole thing started when I installed the Melodyne trial on my laptop. Since then, even though I have gotten rid of melodyne since, this problem has existed.

Hope that helps.