TGB 1.6 - Bad loading after fresh install

I've recently installed 1.6 to start working with the new version, prior to that I've only been working with 1.3. After a clean install of 1.6 the game window pops up and reflects windows and the desktop behind it or sometimes just remains as a black screen. It uses no CPU and isn't labeled not responding in the task manager, however it doesn't react to any commands beyond alt+f4.

I cleaned out all the other installs of TGB and tried a fresh install + reboot etc a couple times with 1.6 to the same effect. Thinking that it might be a corrupted download I installed it onto another machine which runs normally. Today was the first day installing 1.6 and prior to that my other TGB's have all been registered so I don't think it has to do with a trial expired error.

CPU: Intel Core 2 6600
OS: XP updated
RAM: 2 gigs
Video: ATI 1900 with updated drivers as of last week

Install locations at default c:\program files... as well as other locations on same and different drives.