read enough of these to see what's needed - error log here:

Debug Message:  Version v2.01 Dark Avatar last updated on: Mon Nov 24 16:26:43 2008

Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.

Debug Message:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********

System Info

Time: 3/5/2010, 12:24:53

DirectX Version: DirectX 11

Machine Name: MAICA-PC

Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.091208-0542)

Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.

System Model: Inspiron 1525                   

BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A16

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T5550  @ 1.83GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.8GHz

Physical Memory: 2038MB RAM

Page File: 1399MB used, 2912MB available

Windows Dir: C:\Windows

Display Info

Display device 1:

Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1

Card Name: Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

Manufacturer: Intel Corporation

Chip Type: Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

DAC Type: Internal

Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A02&SUBSYS_022F1028&REV_0C

Display Memory: 358 MB

Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor

Monitor Max Resolution: 

Driver Name: igdumd32.dll

Driver Version: 7.14.0010.1409

Driver Date: 3/6/2008 18:58:12

DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Sound info

Sound device 1:

Description: Speakers / Headphones (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC)

Default Sound Playback

Default Voice Playback

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7616&SUBSYS_10280242&REV_1002

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: stwrt.sys

Provider: SigmaTel

Driver Version: 6.10.5614.0000

Driver Date: 11/12/2007 22:07:28

Type: WDM

Other Drivers: 

Acceleration Level: 1

Cap Flags: 0

Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:

Description: Digital Output Device (SPDIF Out) (SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC)

Default Sound Playback

Default Voice Playback

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7616&SUBSYS_10280242&REV_1002

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: stwrt.sys

Provider: SigmaTel

Driver Version: 6.10.5614.0000

Driver Date: 11/12/2007 22:07:28

Type: WDM

Other Drivers: 

Acceleration Level: 1

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:  Going Fullscreen

Debug Message:  Preparing to change display settings.

Debug Message:  Using hardware vertex processing

Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE

Debug Message:  Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1024 x 768, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 0

Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1024 x 768

Debug Message:  Running fullscreen.

Debug Message:  HAL (hw vp): Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

Debug Message:  D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT

Debug Message:  Refresh rate: 60

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:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff

Debug Message:  Now Fullscreen

Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete

Debug Message:  GalCiv2 is activated.

Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****

Debug Message:  No string tables in ./Data//ToolTips.tips

Debug Message:  Timer Frequency is 0 da7a64

Debug Message:  No string tables in ./Data//*.str

Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.

Debug Message:  initailizing bink

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Dad Music\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Dad Music\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Dad Music\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Dad Music\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Event Music\*.mp3

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:  Set mouse.

Debug Message:  Set update timer.

Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.

Debug Message:  Killing ship styles:

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Dad Music\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Dad Music\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Dad Music\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Dad Music\Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.shipcfg

Debug Message:  Danger Will Robinson, no Stars!!!!

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask F:\F DRIVE BACKUP\Main backups and install fi\GAME ISO'S INSTALLERS AND FILES\Stardock\TotalGaming\Stardock Games\GalCiv2./Data//Tutorials/*.xml

Debug Message:  GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_FText

Debug Message:  GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_Details_FormattedText

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask F:\F DRIVE BACKUP\Main backups and install fi\GAME ISO'S INSTALLERS AND FILES\Stardock\TotalGaming\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Scenarios/*.GC2Scenario

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask F:\F DRIVE BACKUP\Main backups and install fi\GAME ISO'S INSTALLERS AND FILES\Stardock\TotalGaming\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario

Debug Message:  CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Title

Debug Message:  CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Spinner_Back

Debug Message:  CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Title

Debug Error:  CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry

Debug Error:  CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_Avalible_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry

Debug Message:  WARNING: GetShipStylePrefix called for civ and civ has no ship style

Debug Message:  LoadHardpointsFromPrefsFile failed to load ship config file: ./Data/ShipCfg/\(null)_ColonyShip.shipcfg

Debug Message:  Creating 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 asteroid fields.

Debug Message:  Killing asteroid field mining bases.

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:  Star Frequency: 3  Max Num Stars: 50

Debug Message:  Planet Frequency: 2  Max Num Planets: 120

Debug Message:  Galaxy Size Set: 5 x 5

Debug Message:  Creating Random Map

Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Stars

Debug Message:  Star Density: Tight Clusters.

Debug Message:  Number of Unplaced Stars: 9.

Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Planets

Debug Message:  Total planets placed: 65

Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Anomalies

Debug Message:  Num Anomalies: 291

Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Resources

Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Done

Debug Message:  Distributing bonuses on planets...

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 9

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 8

Debug Message:  Tried to enter unprintable character: 9

Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Asteroid Fields

Debug Message:  Setting Game Options

Debug Message:  Creating Civs

Debug Message:  Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 43

Debug Message:  Korath Clan: Intellence -> 56

Debug Message:  Krynn Consulate: Intellence -> 56

Debug Message:  Drath Legion: Intellence -> 48

Debug Message:  Iconian Refuge: Intellence -> 42

Debug Message:  Dubsteppaz: Intellence -> 57

Debug Message:  Creating Civs... Done

Debug Message:  Updating ZOC.

Debug Message:  Creating 1 minor races

Debug Message:  Creating ships...

Debug Message:  Updating ZOC.

Debug Message:  Galaxy Create... Done

Debug Message:  UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 5

Debug Message:  UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started

Debug Message:  UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled