Lee, I also have a VAIO Laptop - shows the same difficulties with textures.
Heres my dxdiag:
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System Information
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Time of this report: 1/13/2007, 14:01:26
Machine name: CARRY
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.030422-1633)
Language: German (Regional Setting: German)
System Manufacturer: Sony Corporation
System Model: PCG-FR415M(DE)
BIOS: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz, ~2.8GHz
Memory: 446MB RAM
Page File: 128MB used, 929MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0904 32bit Unicode
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DxDiag Notes
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DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: The registry information for the DirectPlay application 'Stronghold' is missing or damaged. You should reinstall that application.
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DirectX Debug Levels
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Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)
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Display Devices
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Card name: RADEON IGP 345M
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: RS200M AGP (0x4337)
DAC type: Internal DAC(350MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4337&SUBSYS_8158104D&REV_00
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Sony Notebook LCD (1024x768)
Monitor Max Res: 1024,768
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6392 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/2/2003 20:47:00, 369664 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: Nicht zutreffend
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 9/2/2003 20:47:00, 596480 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-0077-11CF-056B-52A1A1C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x4337
SubSys ID: 0x8158104D
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_D ModeMPEG2_C
Deinterlace Caps: {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run
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Sound Devices
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Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10B9&DEV_5451&SUBSYS_8158104D&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3620 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 5/27/2003 16:05:42, 578304 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Analog Devices
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xB5B
Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 48000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run
This Laptop does NOT run AH2 on a playable level. I started out playing with it two years ago, version 2.06 or something. That still ran, but with a horrid frame rate.
I tried to get version 2.08 to run a while back, updating all drivers and cleaning out the house for full performance. But even at lowest graphics/Vid settings, id get 15 FPS in tower OFFLINE. Coming closer to one of the offline drones, let alone trying to shoot it would reduce FPS to a slide show (0-2). I was able to log on and chat, but flying was virtually impossible.
Without your dxdiag, we cant really tell - you might be able to gain a little performance by updating drivers.... but I wouldnt hold my breath. Integrated Graphics chips just dont work well for AH - you need a Graphics card.
For Skuzzy: Textures (especially terrain textures) blink in and out as well.