I guess you haven´t the same settings in your persp panel´s Shading tab as in your side view´s. hmpf.. you could just for fun go to the attribute editor and click the shader tab. open "Hardware Texturing"
Texture Channel = Color
Texture Resolution = Highest
this will make no difference, did it? you might try creating another scene. can´t imagine what else the problem could be.
everything starts and ends in the right place at the right time.