I haven

I haven't experienced anything like this but I can only think of your graphics setup. Anyway some questions that might be useful.Q1) How long have you had this behaviour, did you change your hardware or software setup shortly before these problems started?Q2) Do you have the latest DirectXhttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...&displaylang=enand NVIDIA drivershttp://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.aspQ4) Is your screen resolution compatible with your games?Q5) Are you sure your videocard is insalled correctly, perhaps you need to select the correct NVIDIA profile?StartMenuSettingsControl PanelDispalySettingsAdvancedGeforce 6600GTPerformance & Quality Settings

Thanks for answer. I've had the problem for about three weeks -- after two years of trouble-free gaming. The same games that worked before are the ones crashing the system. I'll check on the latest DirectX but I'm pretty sure I am up to date and, as I say, the games worked before. Screen resolution is definitely not a problem. I run the resolution native to the monitor. I'll play around a bit with the video card settings, but I haven't changed them since the card was installed quite some time ago. The only thing I can think of that changed was through the automatic Windows updates that come in from time to time, but most people say that is unlikely.Thanks again,Terry

Q6) Have you tried reinstalling the gamnes that aren't working? Q7) Are you sure the Windows update was fully successful, maybe youy should force an update again?

My guess is the power supply is on the way out - add the significant extra load for complex graphics-driven games and you've got a failure. You could also check the power supply is properly connected to the card - they can work loose with the vibration of the fan housing.Allcott

That sounds reasonable. I check that out. I've installed and reinstalled games without success so that is not it. Thanks much.

another thought for you it sounds like heat or excess heat i should say may be a problem here. If you can do everyday apps without any problems then I would assume the cpu and fan are ok. When it comes to playing games and the computer is giving your problems I would look to the fan on the video card just to make sure its giving proper cooling when the card is in most demand, ie games. There is a built in temp sensor in the newer Geforce 6xxxx series and above cards so I would right click on the desktop and choose and click on your Nvidia option and if you dont see it then choose properties and choose settings then the advanced button and then you should see a temp option and you can see the current temps of the video card to get an idea.Paul

Hi,I doubt whether excessive heat or a faulty PSU is the problem. Note in 'freddiet's' original post he stated:"My only success, strangely enough, is FS2004 which hasn

>Hi,>>I doubt whether excessive heat or a faulty PSU is the problem.>Note in 'freddiet's' original post he stated:>>"My only success, strangely enough, is FS2004 which hasn

Hi Paul,"possiblw but if you think FS9 pushes the hardware current games are then bring machines to its knees and I run games much more demanding than FS9 by far".....lol, yes perhaps I should have rephrased that as the last "current" graphically intensive games I installed were HL2, Doom3, and X2-The Threat all of which run a treat on my aging setup. Mind you, lets not forget 3DMark03/05 which stress most systems. And then there's 3DMark06? I won't even go there as it would certainly be a pointless exercise with my current spec...pity, really, but I can wait ;). FSX is the key to when I decide to make those necessary changes.Cheers,Mike

>Hi Paul,>>"possiblw but if you think FS9 pushes the hardware current>games are then bring machines to its knees and I run games>much more demanding than FS9 by far">>.....lol, yes perhaps I should have rephrased that as the last>"current" graphically intensive games I installed were HL2,>Doom3, and X2-The Threat all of which run a treat on my aging>setup. >>Mind you, lets not forget 3DMark03/05 which stress most>systems. And then there's 3DMark06? I won't even go there as>it would certainly be a pointless exercise with my current>spec...pity, really, but I can wait ;). FSX is the key to when>I decide to make those necessary changes.>>Cheers,>Mikeyep your right soon I will have to take a second job just to keep up with the new changes. LOL, now I am reading the new G71 hardware for Nvidia will be out next month, its going to be a problem for me since I was considerding getting the 7800 series now I will wait to see whats comming next...we have one expensive hobby LOLpaul

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I thought this thread had died. I'm quite a few time zones removed from most of you living here in Bangkok and some times I miss out on the latest posts for a while. I'm now thinking of seriously refurbishing this computer and I expect that will take care of the problem. Fortunately, I've got a more powerful machine where everything works -- except my eight-year-old thinks its his.