Hang on Quit - Windows 7

I just purchased and installed SOASE on a new Sony laptop I purchased. I installed the game from the retail package I purchased and then installed the updates (1.181) from Impulse. The laptop (Sony Vaio FW560) has 6GB memory and a ATI Radeon 4650 HD 4650 with 512MB, 1600x900 resolution and runs Windows 7. All Windows 7 updates applied from Microsoft. Nice laptop.

So far I've been able to start the game and see the intro movies. The frst tutorial seems to run OK, but when I exit the tutorial and then QUIT the game from the main menu, the screen goes dark and the PC is hung. No way to get it back that I have found except to hard power off the laptop. This is all in full screen mode.

Then I went into Options/Video and CHECKED Use Window Mode. The I immediately got the dark screen with no control. But when I crashed & restarted the PC again, SOASE was now running in WIndows mode. I seem to be able then to Maximise the window to get very close to full screen. Then once I quit the iame, just the Window disappears, and I have control on the laptop again.

Any ideas what is going on?

Thanks in advance!