Blank screen after beta 2 install

So i just ran the update to beta 2 and when i start the game i get a black screen with no hard drive access or any ability to alt-tab out or go to task manager.  It locks.  I have to restart and my 1.12 installed on another drive works fine.  I went into impulse again and i attempted to uninstall entrenchment and just do a fresh install and i get the following error.

There is an error in XML document (28, 8)

(sins of a solar empire - entrenchment)

I am also unable to remove it from add/remove programs.  I click change remove and the button depresses buy no activity takes place.

xp pro sp2