Things are working!!! And I *think* I know what it is. Thanks OussK for taking time to try to help me troubleshoot.
I changed a lot of stuff around uninstalled everything (except the OS) and reinstalled. But in the end, I think it was that I have Quicktime Pro on my desktop and use it regularly as an output module. My new laptop didn't have it. I put Quicktime Pro on there today (because I like it) and around that time stuff starts working. It could have been one of the other things I did. But this seems the most likely. The ugly thing is that the error messages made things look like this was an issue with plugins.
Here were the errors I got:
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_airforce.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_airforce.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_splitter.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_splitter.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_splitter.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_splitter.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_airforce.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_airforce.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Mir_64.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Mir_64.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_splitter.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: plug-in "Stardust_controls_splitter.aex" could not be loaded (1114).
(48 :: 46)
After Effects error: Can't find layer ID=68962646 in composition "NCS Track Scene Particular Test".
(26 :: 93)
After Effects error: Can't find layer ID=68964114 in composition "NCS Track Scene Particular Test".
(26 :: 93)
After Effects error: Can't find layer ID=68962646 in composition "NCS Track Scene Particular Test".
(26 :: 93)
After Effects warning: your project file is apparently damaged (skipped sections: 6). Please save using a different name.
(26 :: 0)