First try this website
http://www.srtest.com/referrer/srtest
It will check to see if your computer can run the game.
Im suspecting an incompatible video card.
Look for and find a file called dxdiag.exe on your computer and run that. Copy / paste the results into a text file and post them.
There is also the system info applet under accesories/system tools of windows (xp at least).