Nvidia and Game Lockup in XP

[planter]

I have been having bad lockups in XP with any type of game. It happens right when I try and launch the game. Here is what happens:

1. Attempt to launch the game
2. I get an hour glass next to the mouse icon
3. It appears as if the whole screen refreshes.
4. The game does not launch and the desktop stops working but I still have mouse
5. I am no longer able to do anything (other than move mouse) and I have to reset the computer.

At first it was just Counter-Strike so I thought it was OpenGL then it started happening in Morrowind which is DirectX. It does not happen every time and will go days without happening then happen one or more times in a row. This happened with 29.32 drivers and still happens with 40.41 drivers. I don't think that it is hardware (at least the video card) because this started happening when I had a Geforce2Ultra but I upgraded to a Geforce 4 4200 and it is still happening. Here is my setup:

Windows XP (both with and without SP1)
AMD 2000+ (not/ever overclocked)
512 mb Ram (Micron, 2.5CAS)
Abit KR7A (via 4.40 drivers)
Promise 100 controller
Gainward GF4 4200 (gold sample, lightly OC'd but did it without) 40.41 drivers
USB MS Mouse
Audigy Soundcard (happened for a couple of driver sets, currently on most recent)
Sony 52x
Lite-On 32x Burner (latest firmware)

Please, help!!!

 

[Mem]

First welcome to AT,your problem could be a few things so I`ll start with a few questions like what PSU are you using(low wattage or poor quality PSU could cause problems) and cpu temps? Did you use Gainward drivers and then go to Nvidia drivers without uninstalling the old ones? You could have corrupted drivers,best way to sort this out is to reformat and do a clean install of OS,it could also be IRQ conflict, I always leave PCI slot 1 empty even with WinXP.

Btw new VIA 4 in 1 drivers out 4.43 you ccan get them

here .Few bios tweaks won`t do no harm,disable fastwrites,disable all video shadowing,disable video ram cacheable,disable system bios cacheable in BIOS.

 

[planter]

Thanks for the reply.
I have a 350w PSU. Is that enough?
CPU temp is always around 50c +/-
I have already turned off those things in the bios.
I sent home the new 4in1 driver today (4.43) and will give them a try.
What freaks me out about the video drivers is that this has been going on for 2 different video cards and different drivers.

Could RAM do it? I have had to turn of things like 4 way interleave to keep the system stable.
I was thinking the same thing about the rebuild but a dead it. I always loose something.


Thanks,

Max

 

[Mem]

If it`s quality PSU 350w should be ok,I would strongly try a clean install of OS,you can try memory programs to check your ram,but I don`t think it`s that,you could also try the ram in a different slot.

Simmtester link .Also try running games with your case open which should rule out overheating.