Editor (2022) crashes on project open (shader compile - "Nature/Terrain/Standard")

[smoky lava]

My client sent me their project, which works on their end. But on mine, every time I launch it, it crashes at the step of "Compiling shader Nature/Terrain/Standard - Shadow Caster" every time (even with the '-diag-debug-shader-compiler' launch option). I tried starting over with a clean Library, and starting over completely, with the same results. I've updated NVIDIA drivers, windows 11, unity hub, etc. The only thing we cant update is the Unity editor, as we are stuck wtih 2022.3.22f1 for vrchat compatibility.

If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate it, thanks.

shader compiler log:

Cmd: initializeCompiler

Unhandled exception: Protocol error - failed to read magic number. Error code 0x80000004 (Not connected). (transferred 0/4)

Quitting shader compiler process```

[bleak adder]

I'd try reinstalling the editor cleanly.
Also, unlikely, but if your system locale is not set to English, I'd try setting it to English, restarting the pc and seeing if the issue is gone.