Hi Corinthianblue,

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 Motherboard Monitor 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 check the
wattage sticker on your power supply and then calculate your need
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/ (Min. 350 for gaming)

4. Test your RAM using: http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

5. Test another video card in your system if it's at all possible.

--
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...d=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
__________________________________________________ _______


"Corinthianblue" <Corinthianblue@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F51A8383-C7F9-46E9-9E0C-85A04AFAEDDA@microsoft.com...
|I am having a problem with games on my computer. I wanted first to check out
| to see if it was Windows first before I bugged other ppl. I've gone through
| the windows troubleshoot on my compaq, and through the compaq troubleshoot
| too. Now I'm looking for alternatives. I need every idea possible. Here is my
| problem:
|
| When I start playing a game, it goes fine. Then, a few minutes into it, the
| game will lag down so bad that the game itself would literally turn into
| pictures, but the sound will continue to play. Then it'll return to normal.
| This repeats itself over and over until I stop playing the game. And it isn't
| on one game, it's on them all. I played a first person shooter called Tribes
| (internet based) and Need for Speed 2 (no internet needed) and both had the
| same problem about the same timeframe every time I played each separately. I
| don't have anything running in the background and I have DSL off of a
| wireless network. Any ideas are welcome, excluding downloads.