This is so annoying, I'm not sure what is going on, but any game I try to play it turns the intire computer off just when I start getting somewhere.
I'm at a loss, cause windows xp runs good doing anything else.. this only happens while trying to play any game.

I'm running:

OS Information:
Property Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
Property Value
Current Clock Speed 1804
Description x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 1
Manufacturer AuthenticAMD
Name AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2200+


Memory (RAM):
Property Value
Bank Label RAS 0 & 1
Capacity 268435456

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~256 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 255MB

Disk Drives:
Property Value
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Maxtor 6E040L0
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 41109949440 (~38 GB)
Number of Partitions 1


Installed Printers:
Property Value
Name Lexmark Z25-Z35
Port Name USB002
Default True
Driver Name Lexmark Z25-Z35


Motherboard:
Property Value
Manufacturer MSI
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product MS-6593
Serial Number 00000000
Version 1.0


BIOS:
Property Value
Manufacturer American Megatrends Inc.
Name Version 1.00
Release Date 20010402000000.000000+000
Version AMIINT - 10


Monitor:
Property Value
Description Plug and Play Monitor
Name Plug and Play Monitor
Screen Height 768
Screen Width 1024

Description Default Monitor
Name Default Monitor
Screen Height
Screen Width


Keyboard:
Property Value
Description Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard


Pointing Device:
Property Value
Manufacturer (Standard system devices)
Name USB Human Interface Device


Sound Card:
Property Value
Manufacturer C-Media
Description CMI8738/C3DX PCI Audio Device
Device ID PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111&SUBSYS_011113F6&REV_10\3&61A AA01&0&38


Video Card:
Property Value
Adapter Compatibility ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM 268435456
Description SAPPHIRE RADEON 9250
Installed Display Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6601
Driver Date 02/22/2006 1:46:26 AM
Video Mode Description 1024 x 768 x 4294967296 colors

Adapter Compatibility ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM 268435456
Description SAPPHIRE RADEON 9250 - Secondary
Installed Display Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6601
Driver Date 02/22/2006 1:46:26 AM
Video Mode Description


I'm not sure about this Sapphire Radeon thing, I don't think this computer had that before..we could of did something wrong while trying to figure out what was going on with the computer.

Please help, this is driving us crazy.

Were you ever able to play these games on this computer?

I am surprised by the RAM report:

Total Memory Detected in Hardware: ~256 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 255MB


256 MB RAM is barely enough to run XP let alone games.

Also try this scan Re: particular games:

Can you run it ..............................................

Can You RUN It?

Ok, I'm trying that can you run it now, i will let you know.. i have to install active x

Originally Posted by jephree

Were you ever able to play these games on this computer?

I am surprised by the RAM report:

Total Memory Detected in Hardware: ~256 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 255MB


256 MB RAM is barely enough to run XP let alone games.

I was able to play tons of games before.. sims was the one that got us to go out and get a different graphic card to run it right, thats when we got the radeon about a year ago.
This annoying problem has just started about a week or so ago.

What do you suggest we do?

Originally Posted by jephree

Also try this scan Re: particular games:

Can you run it ..............................................

Can You RUN It?

well I got a whole page of all the reasons why I couldn't play the games.. did you want the printouts?


CPU
Minimum: Intel Pentium D 2.6 GHz or Athlon X2 +3800
You Have: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2200+ FAIL: Sorry, your computer does not meet this requirement.
System RAM
Minimum: 1 GB RAM under XP and 2 GB RAM under Vista
You Have: 255 MB FAIL: Sorry, your computer does not meet this minimum requirement. You may be able to add more RAM which could make your computer more powerful. Click the 'We Recommend' to see how.
Operating System
Minimum: Windows XP/Vista 32 bits and 64 bits
You Have: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (Build Service Pack 22600) PASS
Video Card
Minimum: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX or ATI Radeon X1650 XT or better
You Have: SAPPHIRE RADEON 9250 (RADEON 9250 AGP (0x5960)) FAIL: Sorry, your video card does not meet this minimum requirement. Upgrade to a more powerful video card will make all your applications look better. Click the 'We Recommend' button to see some great options.
Video Card Features - Minimum attributes of your Video Card Video RAM: Required - 256 MB , You have - 256 MB
Video Card 3D Acceleration: Required - Yes , You have - Yes
Video HW Transform & Lighting: Required - Yes , You have - Yes
Vertex Shader Ver.: Required - 3.0 , You have - 1.1
Pixel Shader Ver.: Required - 3.0 , You have - 1.4


Video Card Driver Version (DirectX)
Your driver version number is: 6.14.10.6601 FYI: Your video card driver version is provided for your information, but it is not part of this analysis. But proper video card driver versions are important to the proper operation of your product.
DirectX Version
Minimum: DirectX version 9.0c (included) or higher
You Have: 9.0c PASS
Sound Card
Minimum: Yes
You Have: C-Media Wave Device PASS
Sound Card Driver Version
Your driver version number is: 5.10 FYI: Your sound card driver version is provided for your information, but it is not part of this analysis. But proper sound card driver versions are important to the proper operation of your product.
Free Disk Space
Minimum: 8.5 GB free
You Have: 17.1 GB PASS
DVD
Minimum: DVD 4X speed or faster (read double layer)
You Have: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3540A PASS, but the Speed could NOT be analyzed...

Looks as though I can run Act of War game

If the problem is that recent try a System Restore:

System Restore
--------------------------------------------------
You might try a System Restore to a point prior to your problem:

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore



Regarding your scan: are you sure you could play this game before on this computer?

Originally Posted by jephree

If the problem is that recent try a System Restore:

System Restore
--------------------------------------------------
You might try a System Restore to a point prior to your problem:

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore



Regarding your scan: are you sure you could play this game before on this computer?

I'm not familular with any of the games on the can you run it website.
I have been trying to play Hell's Kitchen.. I have passed the game but it's been so annoying it kept shutting off, I'd turn it back on again and play till I can pass it.. kept doing that to win lol
I used to play Sims 2, I used to play rollercoaster tycoon 3 ect.
never a problem till lately

I'll try a system restore and let you know

Originally Posted by jephree

If the problem is that recent try a System Restore:

System Restore
--------------------------------------------------
You might try a System Restore to a point prior to your problem:

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore



Regarding your scan: are you sure you could play this game before on this computer?

Did the system restore back two weeks...
it didn't turn off the game 'Hells Kitchen" I could play it without it turning off, however it's really slow moving, and sometimes froze then would start playing again

I appreciate your help so far, what do I do now?

Did another printout, and it seemed to of changed the video card information???
as you see below.


OS Information:
Property Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
Property Value
Current Clock Speed 1804
Description x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 1
Manufacturer AuthenticAMD
Name AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2200+


Memory (RAM):
Property Value
Bank Label RAS 0 & 1
Capacity 268435456

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~256 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 255MB

Disk Drives:
Property Value
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Maxtor 6E040L0
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 41109949440 (~38 GB)
Number of Partitions 1


Installed Printers:
Property Value
Name Lexmark Z25-Z35
Port Name USB002
Default True
Driver Name Lexmark Z25-Z35


Motherboard:
Property Value
Manufacturer MSI
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product MS-6593
Serial Number 00000000
Version 1.0


BIOS:
Property Value
Manufacturer American Megatrends Inc.
Name Version 1.00
Release Date 20010402000000.000000+000
Version AMIINT - 10


Monitor:
Property Value
Description Plug and Play Monitor
Name Plug and Play Monitor
Screen Height 768
Screen Width 1024

Description Default Monitor
Name Default Monitor
Screen Height
Screen Width


Keyboard:
Property Value
Description Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard


Pointing Device:
Property Value
Manufacturer (Standard system devices)
Name USB Human Interface Device


Sound Card:
Property Value
Manufacturer C-Media
Description CMI8738/C3DX PCI Audio Device
Device ID PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111&SUBSYS_011113F6&REV_10\3&61A AA01&0&38


Video Card:
Property Value
Adapter Compatibility ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM 268435456
Description RADEON 9250
Installed Display Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6525
Driver Date 03/29/2005 3:03:06 PM
Video Mode Description 1024 x 768 x 4294967296 colors

Adapter Compatibility ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM 268435456
Description RADEON 9250 - Secondary
Installed Display Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6525
Driver Date 03/29/2005 3:03:06 PM
Video Mode Description


DirectX Installation:
Property Value


Modem:
Property Value

Network Adapters:
Property Value
Description Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description RAS Async Adapter
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description WAN Miniport (L2TP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPTP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
Description Direct Parallel
Description WAN Miniport (IP)
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description Microsoft TV/Video Connection

External Ports:
Property Value
External Reference Designator Def

Expansion Slots:
Property Value
Slot Designation PCI1
Slot Designation PCI2
Slot Designation PCI3
Slot Designation PCI4
Slot Designation PCI5
Slot Designation PCI6
Slot Designation AGP

"Windows is running really slow now"

If the restore affected the computer then undo it. This option is in System restore: Undo my last restore.


The change in the graphics is that it reset an older driver.

This suggests that someone recently updated the driver.


You can try different drivers and try to find one that works best.

Before you try a new driver you need to uninstall the previous one.

You do this via: Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > ATI


The ATI drivers can be found here:

Drivers & Software


You need to insert your model as it certainly will not work with the newest drivers as this is an old card.


RADEON 9250


Catalyst™ 6.11 Display Driver for Windows XP Professional/Home Edition



If that does not help I'd also suggest opening the computer and cleaning it.

The main reason for a computer to totally shutdown is heat.


Also you really do need more RAM.