I managed to get mine running without re-install of windows, but I cannot 100% say/confirm steps to resolve.
In between the last time I was not able to launch it and the first time I launched it successfully I:
-disabled the inbound firewall rule for fm24.exe in windows firewall. Then tried to launch it via Steam and also direct via the fm24.exe (via right click + run as admin) which didn't work.
-after that I re-enabled the inbound firewall rule for fm24.exe and then tried again to launch via Steam which again didn't work.
However, when I then tried to run again direct from the fm24.exe with right click + run as admin, the game booted for the first time!
I'm still unable to start the game via Steam or via a desktop shortcut, if I do I see the same symptoms as before. However the game does now boot every time from the fm24.exe and right click + run as admin.
Unsure if this works for anyone else or helps, but wanted to share none the less just in case.