Cubase is freezing on start up with “Initializing: VST 2.x Plugin → (plugin name)”. I can get it to start up if I rename my VST folder, but I need to be able to use my plugins 
If it helps, I’m on Windows 8.1 and Cubase 7.0.7 64 bit.
Rename plugin folder
Create a new empty vstplugins folder
Move half of plugs in to the empty folder
Start Cubase
If no crash copy some more in and repeat
When it crashes you know it’s a plug in that last batch so move out and try only some of them.
I’ve been through this many times…never takes me more than 20 minutes.