I've scoured the interwebs for inspiration, but so far no dice.

Here's the situation:

When I run the launcher, it lags. Like, a lot. Takes maybe 50-60 seconds for the actual launcher window to load (it loads the window bit by bit, like an image on the internet anno 1999). I then get an Error 210 - PatchManifestError_DownloadFail, and the Repair button appears. Clicking the Repair button loops the Manifest Error, and everything I do within the window, including moving the window around, lags like crazy. I'm not talking choppy movement here, I mean the window freezes and 10-20 seconds later moves to the location of my cursor. Serious lag, as if the process can't access enough CPU/GPU power.

Now, here's the kicker. I uninstalled the game via the Windows Control Panel and ran the launcher to download and reinstall the game files again. Now the launcher suddenly worked fine, and I was able to begin the process of downloading those 30+ GB game files. For some reason, the game reinstalled in less than 5 minutes. I don't have that kind of internet, so I don't know what's up with that. I'm guessing the uninstall didn't delete the game files or something.* Anyway, I launched the game, played around for a while and logged out. Later that day, I ran the launcher again, and the lag and Manifest Error was back.

The game (ESO.exe, ESO64.exe) and the launcher (Bethesda.net_Launcher.exe; what a name, by the way) are on the firewall and antivirus whitelists.

Any idea what gives?

* I just uninstalled the game again via the game's own uninstaller, but it left behind the Zenimax Online folder with about 84 GB data in it. Good uninstaller ya got there. It uninstalled the uninstaller and nothing else. d(^_^)