Windows 8 and Eq not responding

[Jorgam]

Hello,

I just bought this computer and it is running windows8. I've browsed for fixes related to Windows 8 but not a lot is available that I've seen or that has helped. My issue is that once I get to the server select screen, I can choose any server and the little bar listing expansions moves as normal (so I know it's not failing there), but when I hit Play Everquest, the game either resizes to a black screen in the corner of my monitor and stops responding or remains full screen (since trying the all in one installer) and stops responding.
My computer is an ASUS - Essentio Desktop - model number M11BB-B05
AMD vision A8 APU

I am running a legit copy of Secrets of Faydwer and the build matches the compatible builds listed on the main 99 site.

I have tried the following:

I've installed and ran the all in one installer
I've changed the video settings in my client.ini file
I've set the compatibility to run as administrator
I've set the compatibility to run on compatibility mode and tried all of them I think
I've set the compatibility to run in 640 x 480 resolution
I've ran the game through the custom shortcut and the EQemu launcher
I've tried using WinEQ 2.04
I've checked and updated all drivers and they were all current
I've tried alt+enter to change to window and from window mode
I've turned off UCA
I've allowed EQ through my firewall
I've turned off the firewall
I've tried the multi core AMD fix for turning off affinity to run on a single core
I've uninstalled and reinstalled and tried different combinations of the above 3 times

I'm seriously frustrated. But I'm an old school eq player and I can take it. I just hope there is a fix!

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks!