Flossy, right-click on the Aces High startup ICON, select "Properties", then select the "Compatibility" tab, check the option to run the applicatio in compatibility mode, and select "Windows 98/Windows ME" from the drop down list.
Sounds like your computer has a dual-core AMD CPU in it which has a known problem in multi-threaded applications using high speed frequency timers, or possibly a mobile Intel dual core and the company saved a buck by eliminating the second high frequency timer.