Compatability and Video issues with Vista

[Djinn8]

I'm having problems running Civ IV with Vista.

When attempting to load the game, a message pops up noting that the game has compatability issues with Vista. Continuing to load the game has the following results:

The game locks up when starting at "Checking XML". No error message is given, just the usual "windows is checking for solutions" nonsense that Vista gives.

Anyway with the game not working, I visited Firaxis.com and looked for an updates in hope of making the game compatible with Vista and downloaded the 1.74 patch.

After this, the game loaded without informing me about compatability problems and passed the XML check, starting the game. The intro movie and opening screen were flashing and overlapped however and the menu screen the same. Apart for the haywire visuals the games sound, speed and function seems to work however.

I've search this site and Firaxis's site for a similer problem or solution but haven't found anything. Could anyone give me a hint on how to fix this?

Here are my Computers stats:

Acer Aspire M1610
Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2140 @ 1.60GHz
512 MB RAM
32-bit Oppertaing System
Windows Vista Home Premium
SIS Mirage 128 MB Graphics Card
Realtek High Definition Audio

Sorry for the long winded explanation by the way.

 

[auldian]

Make sure you have installed 2 things:
1. The most recent drivers for your graphics chipset from Acer or SiS.
2. The most recent DirectX at Microsoft's site, even though you're sporting DirectX 10.
Ratchet down the options for graphics to as low as they'll go in the game's Options menus. Let us know if that improves the patient's condition.

 

[Djinn8]

I've tried to update both the Soundcard and Video card but there is no update available for either. I also tried to lower the graphic settings in game (very difficult considering the state of the screen when the game is running). It didn't have any effect anyway.

And when I say the screen is haywire, I mean it's really crazy, showing every menu clicked on, the intro screen, my desktop wallpaper and parts of the windows taskbar all at once with a kind of wierd static/flash/phase effect going on at the same time.