So when I start playing the game, Skyrim will instantly crash to desktop whenever I get close to Riverwood for the very first time. I went through and tried to validate my files on steam and it still keeps on crashing at the same exact spot. I went through and also reinstalled the game entirely and it continues to have this problem. I'm not sure what's going on at all.

This should not be happening...on vanilla Skyrim.

Try to re-install that way, and start a new game. If your problem doesn't get solved, somehting else is the culprit.

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First do a standard uninstall. (Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features-> Uninstall The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)

Next, delete your skyrim folder under C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\

Then delete your Skyrim directory under Documents\My Games (after backing up your save files, if you wish)

Then under C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\ - Delete the Skyrim folder that is in it.
(You should enable to see the hidden files under windows to delete that folder.) HOW: (View - Options - Folder Options - View - Advanced Settings: Show hidden files, folders and drives)

Go to your Steam folder. Delete the folder named appcache. (Important)

Use Ccleaner after all this (http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner), Go to the Registry tab and hit -
In the Options tab go to Monitoring and uncheck: Enable System Monitoring and Enable active Monitoring

Reboot your computer (Important)

Then install your game again, from scratch. !!!!

*** You don't need to uninstall Steam. ***

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