Ok, I worked so hard on this, it would be a same NOT to share it with others. :)
In the prefs.cs file, you need to work on the bottom section (All commands start with "$pref::Video::") I am not listing all the commands in the section, just the ones that need to be changed. The following are the variables and the correct values. Comments to the right in parentheses are NOT part of the command - those are just my comments.
displayDevice = "D3D"; (as opposed to OpenGL)
fullScreen = "0"; (windowed mode)
profiledRenderer = "Direct3D"; (result of D3D above)
profiledVendor = "Microsoft Corp."; (I have no idea why this is needed)
resolution = "800 600 32"; (*optional* high resolution - you could leave this at 16)
The last one and a windowed resolution lower in the file setting may be changed in the Options once you can get that far!
Note that changes must be made to both prefs.cs files. It is best to change one and then copy it to the other location. It's a good idea to make a copy or rename the original prefs.cs file before you start playing with it!
Locations of Prefs.cs are as I listed above Trick Ball\common\client and Trick Ball\game\client.
One other note - my friend had to make a new shortcut. The one provided during installation still failed after all these changes. However, as soon as she created her own shortcut from the T2D.exe file, everything worked fine!
On a side note - I have noted that NOTHING is remembered from session to session and you can pick and choose from any of the levels you want. None seem to be locked. If anybody has a way to keep your "top scores" remembered to the next session, please let me know!