I'm also running the game on a Gateway pc with no problems at all, but the graphics are not as good, not bad, just not as good. The background processes count is about the same as my HP laptop. Ran a scan on my laptop and there are no viruses, spyware or adware in it. Also ran the dxdiag and this is some of what came up:
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System Information
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Time of this report: 3/21/2008, 11:37:50
       Machine name: ALEX-PC
   Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.071023-1545)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
       System Model: HP Pavilion dv9500 Notebook PC    
               BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T5250  @ 1.50GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.5GHz
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 949MB used, 3361MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 10
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 6.00.6000.16386 32bit Unicode
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Display Devices
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        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 8600M GS
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0425&SUBSYS_30CC103C&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 1008 MB
 Dedicated Memory: 241 MB
    Shared Memory: 767 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
      Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
   Driver Version: 7.15.0011.0123 (English)
      DDI Version: 9Ex
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 5/1/2007 06:27:00, 4763648 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: 
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4765-11CF-F773-C71001C2CA35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0425
        SubSys ID: 0x30CC103C
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C