twGameExplorer.exe and uninstalling/reinstalling

[Hellfish6 5]

X-posted from the TW forum, but given the lack of activity there, I probably shouldn't expect any help...

 

A couple of weeks ago my SF2 merged install stopped working. I don't know why, but it would simply CTD about two seconds after launching it.

I uninstalled the series today, planning to reinstall. During the uninstall process, two of the uninstallers hung up on the "twGameExplorer.exe" part of the uninstall process. I manually deleted the Third Wire folder, and still the uninstallers hung, but otherwise the uninstaller seemed to work.

Now that I'm reinstalling, having begun with vanilla SF2, the installer is now hung up on Execute: "C... twGameExplorer.exe".

Any idea why? What can I do to fix this? I just rebought the entire series in October (after having bought, and lost, my previous purchases from a few years ago). It's irksome that $200+ worth of games and expansions and DLC isn't working...