Assaultcube - Black screen on startup

[thehumorouscheese]

For some reason, whenever i try to start assaultcube, I get to a black screen, without even reaching the splash screen, and i'm forced to hard restart as i can't get out of it.

here are my system specs:

Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.40GHz 39 °C
Kentsfield 65nm Technology
RAM
4.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 400MHz (5-5-5-1
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5K-E (LGA775) 28 °C
Graphics
Generic PnP Monitor (1024x768@60Hz)
ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (MSI) 40 °C
Hard Drives
699GB SAMSUNG HD753LJ ATA Device (SATA) 27 °C
466GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKS-00YGA0 ATA Device (SATA) 29 °C
466GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKS-00YGA0 ATA Device (SATA) 28 °C
466GB Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKS-00YGA0 ATA Device (SATA) 27 °C
Optical Drives
Optiarc DVD RW AD-5170A ATA Device
Optiarc DVD RW AD-5170A ATA Device
ELBY CLONEDRIVE SCSI CdRom Device
Audio
AMD High Definition Audio Device

I've already reinstalled assaultcube a number of times, and all of my graphics card drivers are up to date.

any help is appreciated,

-thehumorosucheese