I did not reload GC2.exe from the desk top. I did a "retire", then exited the summary screen which got me to the main screen, then selected "load game". Strangely the "endgamesave" entry showed in the field above the list of saved games, so I clicked the load button, but got the "game not selected" response. To be sure the game was selected I clicked on the "endgamesave" entry and clicked "load" again. CTD. I sent the SE report to Scott.
Starting gc2.exe from the desktop and reloading "endgamesave" seems to have worked ok.