If you or someone that you know are experiencing corrupt graphics in EAW, please review and try the following as it should lead to a solution:

Exit the game.
Launch the game from the Windows Start Menu using the "Play Star Wars Empire at War (Safe Mode)" icon.
The game should display correctly, though the graphics detail will be quite low.
Click the "Options" button.
Click the "Video" button.
Click the "Vsync Enable" check box.
Set the "Detail Level" slider to "Max"
Set the "Video Resolution" to anything below 1280x720
Click the Accept button.
Click the "Yes" button to confirm these settings.

To make sure that the new settings work correctly please exit and relaunch the game.