GalCiv II fails to start

I jsut purchased the Ultimate Edition of GalCiv II, installed with no problems but it refuses to run . The launcher splash screen comes up, I click "Play the Game" and then a black square appears, nothing more. I have to force end the process

This is what it looks like.

And here is the debug.err

Debug Message:  Version v2.02 Twilight of the Arnor last updated on: Tue Dec  9 11:44:40 2008

Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.

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

System Info

Time: 5/10/2009, 20:49:28

DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Machine Name: COMPY

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)

Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.                

System Model: Dimension 5100               

BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A01

Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)

Physical Memory: 3326MB RAM

Page File: 1359MB used, 2572MB available

Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

 

 

Display Info

Display device 1:

Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1

Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT 

Manufacturer: NVIDIA

Chip Type: GeForce 8600 GT

DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC

Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0402&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A1

Display Memory: 512.0 MB

Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (59Hz)

Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor

Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200

Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll

Driver Version: 6.14.0011.8250

Driver Date: 3/27/2009 10:03:00

DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

 

 

 

Sound info

Sound device 1:

Description: SB Live! 24-bit

Default Sound Playback: Yes

Default Voice Playback: Yes

Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0007&SUBSYS_10071102&REV_00

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: P17.sys

Provider: CREATIVE

Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0514

Driver Date: 6/15/2007 10:47:26

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:  Unknown error trying to read registry value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2UL Language

Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software\Stardock\Drengin.net\GC2EU

Debug Message:  Could not open reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2

Debug Message:  Going Fullscreen

Debug Message:  Preparing to change display settings.

Debug Message:  Using hardware vertex processing

Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES

Debug Message:  Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1024 x 768, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 4

Debug Message:  Could not create the render device using default format. Switching to 16bit

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:  Could not create the render device.

Debug Message:  InitializeDirect3D Failed.

Debug Message:  Now Fullscreen

Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete

Debug Message:  GalCiv2 is activated.

Debug Message:  WM_CLOSE message received.

Debug Message:  GameUninitialize start