Crashes non-stop :(

[whatdoisay]

I'm running vista and I've followed the suggestions in the vista support thread, yet still it crashes constantly. I can't fight any battles, because it crashes during the loading screen. It's crashed a couple of times on the strategy map and it's even crashed on the civ selection screen (also, if I go to the 'early campaign', then exit and go to the late, it crashes).

I've also tried putting it in compatibility mode but no luck. Anything I can do?

Here's the relevant log report:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

05:52:06.605 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_0.pack
05:52:06.606 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_1.pack
05:52:06.607 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_2.pack
05:52:06.608 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_3.pack
05:52:06.609 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_4.pack
05:52:06.609 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/localized.pack
05:53:08.093 [system.rpt] [error] Medieval 2: Total War encountered an unspecified error and will now exit.

[Caesar Clivus]

and it's even crashed on the civ selection screen (also, if I go to the 'early campaign', then exit and go to the late, it crashes).

That part is pefectly normal and can't be fixed. Try reinstalling SS again over the top of your current installation. Sometimes the installer can miss files.

[Gorrrrrn]

If running Vista you might try turning off the UAC.

make sure you have permission to write to all relevant folders (start with program Files and work down through SEGA / M2TW / etc )

[whatdoisay]

I did both those things (just installed both SS packages like 6 times). Now it works. And might I add: great work .