Crashes immediately

There should be a 'debug.err' file in your "(My) Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor" folder.  You can open it up in notepad, and feel free to paste the contents here so we can see what's happening.

Thanks. Here is the debug....

Debug Message:  Version v2.03 Twilight of the Arnor last updated on: Thu Jul 23 11:47:38 2009

Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.

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

System Info

Time: 3/30/2010, 14:53:15

DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Machine Name: LR8657M3

Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.091208-2036)

Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer: LENOVO

System Model: 2808DJU

BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBLx

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     P9400  @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)

Physical Memory: 3032MB RAM

Page File: 1088MB used, 3828MB available

Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

Display Info

Display device 1:

Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1

Card Name: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family

Manufacturer: Intel Corporation

Chip Type: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family

DAC Type: Internal

Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A42&SUBSYS_20E417AA&REV_07

Display Memory: 1024.0 MB

Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Monitor Name: ThinkPad Display 1440x900

Monitor Max Resolution: 1440,900

Driver Name: igxprd32.dll

Driver Version: 6.14.0010.5068

Driver Date: 5/1/2009 03:52:58

DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Sound info

Sound device 1:

Description: Conexant HD Audio output

Default Sound Playback: Yes

Default Voice Playback: Yes

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5069&SUBSYS_17AA2132&REV_1003

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: CHDAU32.sys

Provider: Conexant

Driver Version: 3.66.0137.0000

Driver Date: 12/21/2009 16:07:36

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:  Going Fullscreen

Debug Message:  Preparing to change display settings.

Debug Message:  Using hardware vertex processing

Debug Message:  Multisample Type chosen in prefs not supported. Disabling multisampling.

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) 4 Series 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:  Timer Frequency is 0 369e99

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\Galactic Civilizations II - Ultimate Edition\./Data/ShipTemplates/\*.shipcfg

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Simon\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\ships\*.shipcfg

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Simon\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\shiptemplates\*.shipcfg

Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\DesktopX

Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.

Debug Message:  initailizing bink

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\Galactic Civilizations II - Ultimate Edition\DarkAvatar\Movies\techs\*.bik

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

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Gfx\Tutorials\*.bik

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Simon\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\Gfx\Movies\*.bik

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Simon\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\sfx\*.wav

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Simon\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\Music\*.mp3

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Simon\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\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:  Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.

Debug Message:  D3DERR_DEVICELOST

Debug Message:  Device lost

Debug Message:  Attempting to reset device.

Debug Message:  Device Validated. Attempting to restore resources.

Go to My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor, open the file prefs.ini, and make the following changes:

Change
DisplayWidth=1024
DisplayHeight=768
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=1

To
DisplayWidth=(Your desktop width)
DisplayHeight=(Your desktop height)
ColorDepth=32
Fullscreen=0

Then save the file and try to start the game.

progress..! the game now boots up, and the intro graphics look fine...BUT, the menu buttons have no text on them...they are just blank! Anything i can do about this? thanks again

Should just need a reboot for that. Sometimes Windows doesn't register the fonts properly right away on install.

awesome...working now....REALLY appreciate the help.

I just bought and downloaded the digital download for GalCiv2 Ultimate Edition, and I had exactly this problem, and these instructions made the game work for me. Thanks!