TweetDeck Blank Screen Fix

So, I returned from a long overdue vacation today and found that when launching TweetDeck I was getting a blank screen.  The application would launch with all toolbars but there was no data to be had.  What to do….?  Fear and panic had set in and off I went to find a solution only to realize there were not many available for Windows…but for Linux/OS X there were a few posts.  I narrowed it down to a preferences situation.  If you are having the problem then here is the solution for Windows users (in my case Windows 7 x64):

1. First and foremost you must go to Control Panel and Folder Options
2. Enable the viewing of hidden files and folders (self explanatory)
3. Navigate to C:\users\username\appdata\roaming\adobe\air\els\
   • **XP USERS: c:\documents and settings\username\application data\adobe\air\els\
4. You will see a folder in ELS labled TweeDeckFast.x (x=a long alphanumeric string)
5. At this point I am sure you have TweetDeck closed.
6. Delete the TweetDeckFast.x folder.
7. Relaunch TweetDeck
8. Reenter your username and password and you are set to go.

The above problem seems to be related to the recent API issues that Twitter has been having and thus the connection between TweetDeck and Adobe Air was damaged.

Hope this helps some of you out there.