ODI Tips: ODI initialization hangs

I have been on the same OBIA/ODI project for almost two years now and every now and then I get this issue.
ODI Studio hangs on ODI initialization - Initialize Search Engine window.

No matter how much patiently you wait, it won't allow you to progress further.
The only option you have is to:

1. Kill ODI Studio process using Task Manager
2. Locate windowinglayout.xml file in your computer. Typically, you will find it under: C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\odi\system11.1.1.9.0\o.ide.11.1.1.9.40.66.73   
   
   
3. Delete the file and restart ODI Studio