New Install on Win8.1 - ALL Ground Textures Low Resolution

Hello Sim Friends .... Recently I purchased an HP Laptop that uses Windows 8.1 Pro and that runs an I7-4700MQ processor with an NVidia GT740M and 16 gigs of memory.

I was looking forward to running FS9 smoothly.  Two problems ... one minor ... the other major.

1)  MINOR ISSUE:  I have a black screen where the 3D aircraft selection should appear.  I searched and others have had a similar problem but I was not able to locate a fix.

2)  MAJOR ISSUE:  ALL and I repeat ALL ... with no differences according to speed or distance ... ALL Ground Textures are very low resolution.  Like you can kind of tell that there is supposed to be a road there, etc.  I've been doing FS-9 for years and then FSX for years and I have been through "blurries meat grinder" several times.  But this problem never varies ... the textures NEVER get sharp ... They are ALL the same low resolution ALL of the time.  The 3-D models sit there very nicely on top of the very low resolution ground textures.  So far as I can tell the sim is working fine except for the lousy visual quality of ground textures.  I have searched the internet and the forums and i can't find anyone with an issue where ALL of the textures are low resolution ALL of the time.  Again ... I am not talking of where textures are blurry and then "pop" into sharp clarity.  Everything is low resolution ... all of the time.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

If so ... much appreciated.  :rolleyes:

Thanks, 

Steve