This might be less an AGS problem and more a Windows problem. BUT:
Whenever I test my game at 640x480 it gives me a window with no graphics and eventually closes down. I can test the game windowed, so I can at least test for functionality, but I'm working with some very small sprites and I need to know if they're big enough when played on fullscreen. I'm having the problem with all AGS games as well; The Shivah and Infinity String only run windowed, Automation won't run at all (plays sound, empty window).
I'm using AGS 2.70 and don't want to move to newer versions just yet. I generally prefer Macs to PCs and don't want to make a game that won't run in the AGS RunTime, which means nothing too recent. I've tried adjusting my display settings and managed to crash my PC entirely (god I hate Windows). It's Windows XP Pro, if that helps. Any ideas?
In other news, it won't run Grim Fandango either. That's cold.
What graphics card and monitor are you using?
Did you try upgrading the graphics card's driver and/or DirectX?
Pentium III 1.13 GHz, IBM Lenovo laptop, so whatever kind of monitor comes with that. The DirectX functionality is being weird as well; every time I install DirectX it says it already has a fully functional DirectX 8 installed, and DDiag says as much, but any time I try to RUN anything that needs DirectX it says that files are missing, despite DDiag having just said otherwise. It's as if they're searching in different folders or something.
Can't update the drivers since this computer doesn't have any internet access. I just bought it used specifically for programming in AGS and I'm trying to figure if this is a problem with the laptop or just my fault for even touching Windows again.
Easy, you need to install the current version (9c).
As he mentioned, there is no internet connection on that laptop and most people don't know how to update DirectX without network.
All you need to do is to download the DirectX Redistributable (I think you can just google it and there's a download in M$'s own site) and run it in the laptop.
You can also find DirectX in most computer games magazine cd's. So that is go buy a magazine and it will probably be in there. Pc magazine, or Pc World always have it,