Hi Ray,

Updating video card drivers can solve most gaming issues.  Here's some
simple abc's to always keep in mind. a. Shut off download accelerators,
firewalls and antivirus programs when downloading or installing updates;
b. Check for game patches: www.avault.com/pcrl/patches_list.asp?letter=a
c. Make sure you meet the game's minimum video and system requirements.

Before you update your drivers, I recommend that you update DirectX
from: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.aspx

Here are the steps I recommend you use to update your driver:

1. To identify the make and model of your card, right click your
   Desktop, choose Properties / Settings / Advanced / Adapter.

2. Download the latest video driver for your card online, using
   http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits/Video.html#drivers
   to find the website to download from.  I also have advanced
   video driver and direct X troubleshooting steps on that page.

3. Save the .exe driver (or extract the zip file) to a folder
   in My Documents named after the driver version number.

4. Restart the computer in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key
   about once every second as it's rebooting to pick Safe Mode.

5. Click Start / (settings) Control Panel / System / Hardware
   Device Manager / expand +Display Adapters / right click on
   the adapter, pick "Uninstall", and click No if asked to reboot.

6. Use Control Panel / Add-Remove programs to uninstall the
   previous driver (exe)software which may have been installed.

7. Restart the computer in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key
   about once every second as it's rebooting to pick Safe Mode.

8. If the driver is NOT a (.exe)program file, GO TO step 11.

9. When Windows prompts you to install the video adapter,  click
   "Cancel" and Double click the driver program to begin installation.
   * Even if not prompted, doubleclick the driver and install it.

10.  After you reboot, go to Control Panel / Display / Settings and
   choose 32 bit Color Quality, and 800x600 or higher Resolution.
   That's it!  Scroll down to the Troubleshooter if you have problems.

11. When Windows prompts you to install the video adapter,  click
   "Install from a list or specific location", click the "Browse" button,
   browse to the My documents folder where you saved the driver,
   and finally click on one of the driver files to begin installation.

** If you are not prompted, or if the driver was updated automatically:
Click Start / (settings) Control Panel / System / Hardware Device Manager
expand +Display Adapters / right click on the adapter, pick "Update Driver"
to start the Update Wizard, choose the "Install from a list..." option:
                   Browse to My Documents\ folder with the driver in it
                       Click OK and click Next to begin the update.

12.  After you reboot, go to Control Panel / Display / Settings and
   choose 32 bit Color Quality, and 800x600 or higher Resolution.
   That's it!  Try the advice in the Troubleshooter if you have problems.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

Test your drivers using DXDiag:  Click Start / Run / type: DXDIAG
Click the "Test" buttons in the Display, Sound, Music & Network Tabs;
If any of the Display options are Disabled and you cannot Enable them,
your most likely solution would be to update your Chipset Drivers as per
my website: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits/Video.html#v11

Your program might not support dual monitors, or "dual head" video cards
You can disable the extra video output in your display properties control
panel. Click Start>Settings>Control Panel>Display>Settings>Advanced.

Along with your Video card, Sound Cards, Motherboard Chipsets,
and Video Monitors may also require updated drivers.  Even your
motherboard's  BIOS may need to be updated for compatibility with
your Video card.  These steps are listed at: http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk

Perhaps the old Video drivers did not completely uninstall.  If that's the
case, use these utility to completely uninstall the drivers and go to step
7:
nvidia: http://content.guru3d.com/index.php?page=detonatorrip&menu=0
or for all cards including nvidia use:  http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/

The latest video drivers sometime don't work with a particular game.
(Check the Video suggestions in the readme.txt file in your game folder/CD)
If there's no suggestions, try an older (WHQL) driver, and/or if you still
experience problems try a Beta driver, or even an Omega driver instead:

       BETA Drivers:  http://download.guru3d.com/
       OMEGA Drivers: http://www.omegadrivers.net

There you have it, if you have any questions feel free to post them! :-)

Cheers,                                Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User
Jimmy S.                               http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Games Help and Support Center: http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty;  nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

Ray Wrote:
=================

As this has seemingly just started happening recently I'd use System Restore
to go back to when it was working, you'll probably find it was another piece
of software or a driver that has caused the upset.

To use System Restore (assuming it hasn't been disabled) browse to Start ->
All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.

The wizard will then pop up and show a calendar of restore points.  Go back
to a point you think pre-dates the problems.  You won't lose any documents
or e-mails in the restore, but any applications installed after will
probably need to be reinstalled.

If that works test the games after every install of a piece of software to
try and narrow down the cause.

If you don't have System Restore enabled or restore points back far enough
post back and we'll try shutting down any background applications that could
be interfering.

There's your problem. Free up a LOT more space, and defragment your disk.

--
K