Solution to "TCS has stopped working" in LR 12.50

I just re-installed Loadrunner 12.50 on Windows 7 Enterprise (64 bit, HP Laptop) and was trying to record a script with Internet Explorer 11.0.9600.18124, Update Version 11.0.26 (all add-ons disabled) with VUGen. However, upon starting the recording, I get a popup with the error message "TCS has stopped working".

Is there an authorative solution to this problem? I do not want to try the dozen of possible solutions floating around in order to get this laptop destroyed again. I want THE single solution to this problem. If this is even possible...

Thanks in advance ...

Addendum: There see to be a lot of links pointing to this page to turn off IE ESC:

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/chenley/2011/03/10/how-to-turn-off-internet-explorer-enhanced-security-configuration/

but I am not able to follow the instructions. Where can I find the "Server Manager Tool"? The windows search box does not find this tool. And how can I be sure that turning off IE ESC does not trigger a million other issues? Maybe this was the reason the laptop crashed in the first place!