When I attempt to start Dread Lords (1.53) all I get is a pixelated garbled mess, as if somebody bumped the NES cartridge.  The initial selection screen (Play Game/Manual/etc) opens fine but the intro movie and game's main screen are completely unusable. It worked 2 days ago when I first installed it so I know my hardware is sufficient, then the next day it was broken. The only thing I did in between the two was update Java and run some anti-malware programs to get rid of a Virtumonde infestation. Nothing else on my computer is having any problems so I don't think the spyware removal damaged anything.

I have un/re-installed Dread Lords as well as my graphics drivers (which are the most recent). The prefs.ini settings match my desktop's.

It sounds like the same problem this guy had, and we have the same graphics card:
https://forums.galciv2.com/101732/page/1/#1008059


debug.err attached even though the game isn't actually crashing per se, in fact the music plays fine and I can usually even quit normally if I guess where that button is. Although, a couple times it has hung so bad that not even CAD works. Please let me know if I need to provide anything else.


Debug Message:  Version v1.53 last updated on: Tue Nov  4 11:55:35 2008
Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.
Debug Message:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 12/19/2008, 12:15:20
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: IAN
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.080814-1233)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gateway
System Model: C3070
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Sempron(tm)   3000+,  MMX,  3DNow, ~2.0GHz
Physical Memory: 448MB RAM
Page File: 150MB used, 1906MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01F0&SUBSYS_927A1509&REV_A3
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371
Driver Date: 10/22/2006 12:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 


Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: NFORCE_VAD
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: nvapu.sys
Provider: NVIDIA Corporation
Driver Version: 6.14.0442.0030
Driver Date: 5/25/2004 13:58:04
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 


Debug Message:  *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message:  Entering WinMain
Debug Message:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message:  Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message:  Using software vertex processing
Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONMASKABLE
Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message:  Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message:  HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU
Debug Message:  D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_IMMEDIATE
Debug Message:  Refresh rate: 0
Debug Message:  Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message:  *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message:  Border size reported as 6 by 25
Debug Message:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message:  Now windowed.
Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete
Debug Message:  GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message:  Timer Frequency is 0 369e99
Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.
Debug Message:  initailizing bink
Debug Message:  Create setup screens.
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  * Collectors Edition *
Debug Message:  Set mouse.
Debug Message:  Set update timer.
Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message:  TitleWnd: Quit Button.
Debug Message:  Posting WM_CLOSE message.
Debug Message:  WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message:  GameUninitialize start
Debug Message:  Killing Galaxy
Debug Message:  Killing threads.
Debug Message:  Kiling civs.
Debug Message:  Killing ships.
Debug Message:  Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message:  Killing misc objects.
Debug Message:  Killing stars.
Debug Message:  Killing anomalies.
Debug Message:  Killing space resources.
Debug Message:  Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message:  killing scenario.
Debug Message:  Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.
Debug Message:  Killing Galaxy: Completed
Debug Message:  Shutting down sound system.
Debug Message:  Clearing sound and music handles.
Debug Message:  GameUninitialize end
Debug Message:  Device not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message:  D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message:  Destroying Window.
Debug Message:  Main Shell terminating normally