here is the contents of the acklog:

Log of Atari Lite-C 1.10.2 run at Wed Dec 03 18:33:30 2008
Jake on Windows NT/2000/XP version 6.0 Build 6000
Options test.c -eq -diag -te

App C:\Program Files\Lite-C\acknex.exe in C:\Users\Jake\Desktop\
MM mixer opened
DSOUND device opened
DI interface opened
Start Window opened
(c)Conitec . Dieburg . San Diego . www.3dgamestudio.com
Atari Lite-C - Free Edition V1.10.2 - Jul 10 2008
Development version

Mouse found
Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio) opened
Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family pure T&L device 1ff9 detected
D3D device Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family 1ff9 selected.
PATH C:\Program Files\Lite-C\code\
Compiling TEST.C - [Esc] to abort..
Error in 'MAIN' line 12: syntax error

< video_mode 7;
>
.. 0.096 sec
Can't compile TEST.C
Startup failure - any key to abort
Program aborted
Close level,DLL,objects
Free input,funcs,panels,defs,syns,views,strings,vars..ok
Free sounds,bmaps,fonts,hash,defs1,script..ok
Close dx,multimedia,D3D,engine,physics,nexus..ok
Atari Lite-C - Free Edition V1.10.2 - Jul 10 2008
(c)Conitec . Dieburg . San Diego . www.3dgamestudio.com
Close window

But I know that that is not right because I changed the "video_mode 7;" to "video_mode = 7;" but it doesn't say that in teh acklog, which makes me think that is for someone reason not recognizing the enw code. Also, when I run, i don't get any errors like the acklog says, just the black screen. I am wondering if I just had a bad install (though I can still play the examples in the workshops).