Problems loading CoH

Hi

I have already posted this question on player help and I was directed here, so here goes:

I recently reinstalled windows on my laptop which I have used to play CoH for a couple of years. (so I know it can).

I also have the latest driver for my GC, DirectX etc.

I have reactivated my account and have reinstalled CoH. All good so far.

I can log in and connect to a server but when I get to my characters menu there are no firgures and no background.

The correct list of heroes is there, they are all present on the list and I have the arrows for rotating a figure, but no figure and the background is just black, the upgrade box for Rogue and other boxes (store, delete etc) are there.

Have checked my graphics driver and visited http://cyri.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/ which says I should be able to play it easy.

Is it possible that a firewall or other program (I have avast 5 antivirus running) is preventing it somehow (they never have before) or is there some other program I would need to download as I have reinstalled windows XP.

I had wondered if my insallation disc was faulty and installed CoH on my partners (crap) Dell Dimension 2400. And it even played on that! So there is no issue there.

I have also loaded other games to see if they will play: Freedom Force Vs Third Reich, Civ IV, Doom 3, King Kong and they all play perfectly.

I'm at a loss to explain it, as the only difference I can see is that CoH is accessed via the internet hence my thinking re the firewall.

Any help would be hugely appreciated, this is driving me nuts. Not to mention every day I can't play is wasted money.

Regards,

FH

Oh one other thing, if I try and enter the game it will allow me to do so but again only the boxes are visible, no figures or cityscape just black. (and sound works perfectly)