Free campaign and tutorial 2 not working

[unmerged(147971)]

Strange... tutorials 1 & 3 and at least the grand campaign work fine, but when starting tutorial 2 or the free campaign, loading screen won't go away. It loads normally to 100% and nothing happens, music keeps playing and for at least 10 minutes the game will not start and I have to alt-tab out.

I have patched the game, which is a digital distribution from GamersGate.

I've been googling around and so far no similar problems reported so it must be something on my machine?

I'm running it on a laptop:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, 2,2Ghz x 2
RAM: 2Gb (2 x 1Gb), DDR2 667 MHz SDRAM
GPU: Nvidia 8600m GT, 256Mb GDDR3*
AUDIO: Integrated Intel® High Definition Audio chip (Azalia)
HDD: 160Gb Hitachi 5400rpm
OS: Vista Ultimate

Tried lowering graphics, different resolutions etc. without success.

Any pointers?

 

[Cloudbusting]

I have had a similar issue before but it seems to have been fixed with the new patch. What language are you using with your windows vista?
Here is the link of the thread mentioning that problem
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412190
Edit:actually I have another issue with non english language so all issue may not have been fixed.
If you can try to change your system locale by going to your regional setting and
then going to the administrative panel and switch your language for non unicode programs setting to english(united state)

 

[unmerged(147971)]

I'm using English Vista, but my locale is Finnish.

I now changed it to US, reinstalled EIC and applied the patch - still no go.

 

[Akiralen]

Try changing language used for non unicode programs, I believe it in advanced section.

 

[unmerged(147971)]

Try changing language used for non unicode programs, I believe it in advanced section.

I did that with no help. Although now I can play with at least Spain and Portugal but with Britain the campaign won't start... same goes for the second tutorial: won't work.

Well, at least I've got something to do in the game...