anyway, i got it working tonight. it looks like garbage, but it works. I had to shift to 800x600 resolution (something my "eye candy" appreciative mind never thought of doing) so there REALLY must be something wrong with my machine since I was easily able to support a MUCH better resolution before I had all these troubles.
Well anyway, thanks to everyone that's offered some help over the past few months. I'd post screenshots again, but I think I just might be too embarrassed to do so







