Hi Andy,
Well, since we've visited your hardware, let's examine your
software this time. Skip to step 5 first though for your situation.
The most common causes for that problem can be solved with
these five steps. If the problem persists after you've tried these,
please post back and we'll try some more solutions. Good luck!
1. To see if it's a software conflict: Temporarily disable Startup
programs one at a time, starting with Firewall, Antivirus, and ad
blockers using:
http://new.jtsoft2001.com/windows/startup.php
You can lookup what a program does before you disable it here:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.htm
2. Run a virus scan at:
http://housecall.antivirus.com Afterwards
Download & Run Spybot from:
http://security.kolla.de to find any
Trojans, Adware, or Spyware which could clog up your system.
3. Click My Computer / Rightclick the Drive & Choose Properties
/ Run the "Disk Cleanup..." / Next Click the "Tools" Tab and run
the "Error-Checking" and "Defragmentation" utilities.
4. Go to the Windows Update site for everything under Critical and
Recommended:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
5. Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound, &Video Drivers:
For all Video / DirectX / Game and Hardware Issues, I have a
Checklist of Solutions at:
http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk
--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
Game FAQs:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite:
http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________
|
| >-----Original Message-----
| >Hi Andy,
| >
| >Hardware issues can cause freezing, black screens and
| other
| >errors. Also, your drivers should always be kept up to
| date.
| >
| >Try the following steps one at a time to try and resolve
| the issue.
| >I hope this helps. Please post back if you have any
| questions!
| >
| >1. Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound, &Video
| Drivers:
| >For all Video / DirectX / Game and Hardware Issues, I
| have a
| >Checklist of Solutions at:
http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk
| >
| >2. Dust your fans, vents and components using a 1/4"
| paintbrush
| >and a hose vacuum. Use compressed air for hard to reach
| places.
| >Set a housefan to blow cold air into your case to expose
| an over-
| >heating issue.. If it works add more fans or replace
| defective ones.
| >Use this Mainboard Monitoring Utility:
|
http://mbm.livewiredev.com
| >
| >3. A faulty power supply can cause STOP errors, random
| reboots,
| >and black screen lockups. One way to test for that is
| to remove all
| >extra devices, network cards, extra RAM sticks, modem,
| scussi card,
| >sound card, unplug CD drives (if not needed to verify
| CD), and then
| >try the game again. If the problem is solved look into
| a 400 watt P/S.
| >
| >4. Test your RAM using:
|
http://www.memtest86.com/memt30.zip
| >after you extract that zip file, click on the README.txt
| file for the
| >instructions on how to create the boot floppy to test
| your RAM.
| >
| >--
| >Cheers, Windows XP MVP
| Shell / User
| >Jimmy S.
|
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| >
| >Game FAQs:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| scid=FH;[LN];gms
| >Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite:
|
http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
| >MS Support at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| scid=sz;en-us;top
| >My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I
| confer any rights.
| >_________________________________________________________
| >
| message | >| - Have AMD athlon 2600
| >|
| >| - gforce 4 ti4200 agp 8x graphics card
| >|
| >| - 1024 mb ddr ram
| >|
| >| - o/s = xp home edition
| >|
| >| - when gaming the screen more often than not freezes -
| >| enter the matrix and champ manager in particular
| >|
| >| can anyone please help?
| >|
| >| is there an incompatability problem here?
| >|
| >| is it xp home- should I downgrade to me which i had
| >| previously and never had a problem with!!!
| >
| >
| >.Hi, Thanks for your tips - have carried out all you
| asked me to and still have problems - really dont know
| what to do and it is very frustrating - could it be that
| ineed to get rid of xp and try ME or do you have any
| other tips I could try
| >