I havent installed directors cut yet, just the small 1.06 patch. (the directors cut version is too bit to try and download on dialup)
However for some reason after leaving the game for a day it now gets about 10 minutes into the campaign and just crashes with the "this program is no longer working" bug. I suppose I should be happy its not BSOD anymore

Log file
[5:03:22:792] DEBUG: RELEASE BUILD
[5:03:22:792] DEBUG: Path: C:\Program Files\Paradox Interactive\East India Company
[5:03:22:837] DEBUG: Is this game allowed to start?
[5:03:22:838] DEBUG: - CoInitializeEx() succeeded.
[5:03:22:873] DEBUG: - CoCreateInstance() succeeded, can call IGameExplorer::VerifyAccess()
[5:03:22:876] DEBUG: - Game is allowed to start.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: show_tactical_text
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: menu_two_click
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: menu_autopause
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: terrain_memory_reserve
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: terrain_memory_precache
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: show_terrain_memory_info
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: target_based_weapon_choose
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: targeting_stops
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: double_click_move_fast
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: hostile_sighted_autopause
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: debug_console_commands
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: external_video_player
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: joystick_enabled
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: 1st_player_enabled
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: 2nd_player_enabled
[5:03:22:930] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 3rd_player_enabled
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 4th_player_enabled
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 1st_player_keybinds
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 2nd_player_keybinds
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 3rd_player_keybinds
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 4th_player_keybinds
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 1st_player_has_cursor
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 2nd_player_has_cursor
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 3rd_player_has_cursor
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 4th_player_has_cursor
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 1st_player_control_scheme
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 2nd_player_control_scheme
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 3rd_player_control_scheme
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: 4th_player_control_scheme
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: allow_full_plugin_access
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: default_plugin
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: red_correction
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: green_correction
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: blue_correction
[5:03:22:931] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: calibrate_gamma
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: extra_gamma_effects
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: weather_effects
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: particle_effects_level
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: green_blood
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: gore_level
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: shadows_level
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: lighting_level
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: speech_language
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: menu_language
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: subtitle_language
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: show_fps
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: show_polys
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: camera_autotilt_amount
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: render_mode
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: render_glow
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: render_fakelights
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: camera_autotilt_alpha
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:932] DEBUG: camera_autotilt_beta
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: show_debug_data_view
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: debug_data_view_type_mask
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: debug_data_view_rate
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: debug_data_view_alpha
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: shadows_texture_quality
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: lod_range
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: freeze_camera_culling
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: freeze_spot_culling
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: controller_script_1
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: controller_script_2
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: controller_script_3
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: controller_script_4
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: controller_script_5
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: controller_script_6
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: controller_script_7
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: controller_script_8
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: controller_script_9
[5:03:22:933] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: controller_script_10
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: controller_script_11
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: controller_script_12
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: controller_script_13
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: controller_script_14
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: controller_script_15
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: controller_script_16
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: camera_mode
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: camera_range
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: camera_time_factor
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: camera_no_delta_time_limit
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: camera_disable_timing
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: camera_invert_look
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: camera_scrolly_enabled
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: game_mode_rts
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: game_mode_topdown_shooter
[5:03:22:934] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: game_mode_aim_upward
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: render_collision
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: show_debug_raytraces
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: debug_raytraces_type_mask
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: game_missiondefs
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: cleanup_skip_rate
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: flashlight_sway_factor
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: flashlight_sway_time
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: flashlight_shake_factor
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: flashlight_shake_time
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: flashlight_impact_factor
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: game_execute_use_selected_item
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: gui_units_position
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: gui_radar_mode
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: high_quality_lightmap
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: material_missing_warning
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: sound_missing_warning
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: lightmap_filtering
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:935] DEBUG: shader_gamma_effects
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: render_spot_debug
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: render_fakeshadow_debug
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: render_glow_debug
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: render_bone_debug
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: use_instancing
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: render_water
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: use_postprocess
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: GameOptionManager::load - Property not found.
[5:03:22:936] DEBUG: render_particles
ERROR: Ambiguous filename: mountainr_red.dds
ERROR: Ambiguous filename: mountainr_red_nm.dds
ERROR: Ambiguous filename: desert.dds
ERROR: Ambiguous filename: desert_nm.dds
ERROR: Ambiguous filename: grass.dds
ERROR: Ambiguous filename: grass_nm.dds
ERROR: Ambiguous filename: mountainr.dds
ERROR: Ambiguous filename: mountainr_nm.dds
[5:03:23:938] DEBUG: Driver 0(Primary Sound Driver) -- does NOT 3D HW sound
[5:03:23:943] DEBUG: Driver 1(Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)) -- does NOT 3D HW sound
[5:03:23:948] DEBUG: Driver 2(Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)) -- does NOT 3D HW sound
[5:03:23:953] DEBUG: Driver 3(Realtek HDMI Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)) -- does NOT 3D HW sound
[5:03:24:046] DEBUG: Hardware sound channels initialized: 64
[5:03:24:046] DEBUG: Selected sound driver 0
[5:03:24:047] DEBUG: Sound system initialized succesfully
[5:03:24:080] DEBUG: GameVideoPlayer:

layVideo - About to play a video.
[5:03:24:080] DEBUG: Data\Videos\Paradox_WMV_640X352.wmv
[5:03:24:080] DEBUG: GameVideoPlayer:

layVideo - Not using external video player.
[5:03:24:478] DEBUG: Screen 1680x1050 Texture 640x352
[5:03:26:053] DEBUG: Video Rendered!
[5:03:26:053] DEBUG: GameVideoPlayer:

layVideo - About to play a video.
[5:03:26:053] DEBUG: Data\Videos\NitroGames_intro_1024X576.wmv
[5:03:26:053] DEBUG: GameVideoPlayer:

layVideo - Not using external video player.
[5:03:26:121] DEBUG: Screen 1680x1050 Texture 1024x576
[5:03:27:208] DEBUG: Video Rendered!
[5:03:27:208] DEBUG: GameVideoPlayer:

layVideo - About to play a video.
[5:03:27:208] DEBUG: Data\Videos\Intro.wmv
[5:03:27:208] DEBUG: GameVideoPlayer:

layVideo - Not using external video player.
[5:03:27:275] DEBUG: Screen 1680x1050 Texture 1024x576
[5:03:29:223] DEBUG: Video Rendered!
[5:03:32:195] DEBUG: OGUI init
[5:03:32:292] DEBUG: Animator init
[5:03:32:292] DEBUG: Loading msg
[5:03:32:292] INFO: ---------------------------------
[5:03:32:292] INFO: East India Company
[5:03:32:292] INFO: Version 1.06
[5:03:32:292] INFO: East India Company 1.06 (Aug 12 2009)
[5:03:32:292] INFO: -----------------------