So I was having trouble running MTW on my Alienware laptop, that I connect to a 24 inch monitor when at home. Like most people. I've been looking, and using, the fixes suggested by others. The two big problems I had were low resolution, and the fact that the game blinked like crazy. The resolution problem was fixed through this:

http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showth...ution-problems

The blinking was more difficult to figure out. I tried using my nvidia control panel to override settings, as per many, many suggestions. Didn't help. Then I remembered that I do have an Intel graphics card, so I thought "Well, it can't hurt." So I switched the game to use the Intel integrated card, and it works! Perfectly! Not a single CTD, and I'm at the year 1283. So if there's anyone out there wondering how can I get this to work, give it a shot. It can't hurt.