Well, Divine Divinity is up and running again...
Got my new CD-RW installed, which rid me of the problem I had with my disc not reading. Also, since Tinuviel had a similar system to mine, I tried again putting my video in software mode, and also turned off all the graphics options and viola!, I was able to go on in the council of seven area. Thank goodness. Frame rate sucked...like 72 fps as opposed to 270+ in glide, but oh well. At least I could advance.
I also accidentally discovered that the 'virtual function call error' I experience when quitting the game is linked to glide. I get it every time I quit when I'm in glide mode...and never when I'm in software. Is there anyway to change that option without dumping out of the game first???
Also, thanks for all the other tips people leave here. I've run into a couple the same problems (Like finding my character outside the dungeon in the black area) and was glad I had read the solutions here.
thanks,
Branwyn