Start-up Error

[Maladancia]

I just picked up Civ4 the other day and was really excited about getting into it today. I install the game, and run the latest patch. But I find that immediately after I run the program it crashes. The game does not even change into full screen, nor make it to the main menu. When I click the icon to run Civ4 after about a second it crashes and brings up the Microsoft error report, "Civilization 4 encountered an error and needed to close!"
I am running a Radeon 9600 with the latest drivers, and I have no problem running Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion on medium settings. The error here seems to be more like a Windows error, or have something to do with the way the game is installed (Are their supposed to be shortcuts to folders in the Civ4 main folder?)

I appreciate any help, I want to play as soon as possible!

 

[crunch]

(Are their supposed to be shortcuts to folders in the Civ4 main folder?)

Yes.

Please enable logging (http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/support_logging.htm) and post your init.log file. Perhaps this could help us help you.