Did anybody found a workaround?
I have the same exact problem with max 2016 latest service pack...
My only workaround is trying different ways to open the file.
1. Open from file eplorer directly
2. open max -> open from recent projects tab.
3. Max tab -> open file
4. Which works best for me. (It's like starting an old diesel car in the winter) First open an an easy 10 - 20mb file to "warm up max" an then open the project I'm working on.. :D It's just ridiculous but it works.
Also a good way to clean up some mess is go to Max tab -> New -> Keep Objects and Hierarchy ->resave. I'm not expert but it's always looses few mb of something.