d3d error - directx? directdraw?

WinXP Pro SP2 - this is a laptop (HP zv6000 series) with a cleanly formatted hard drive and a clean install of Windows. Any games install OK, but crash right at the start to the error attached below.... HELP!!!!
:cry

 

Running dxdiag did nothing. All the tests passed 100%, both DirectX and DirectDraw. I updated to SP3, and reinstalled the video drivers (Mobility Radeon Xpress 200), and still the crash.

:banghead


EDIT- upon reviewing the requirements for the game that's crashing (Seven Kingdoms: Conquest), I think the game is not compatible with this laptop. The owner of this laptop said it was crashing on other games, but this 7Kingdoms is the only game installed. So.......