Try and update your GFX drivers from
here. I can't see any 9600 GS but I Can see an 9600GSO GFX card in the supported product list. If that is the one you have then you can go ahead and download the drivers, before you install any new drivers you need to remove them through add and remove programs, and then run this
tool to make sure that alll traces of the old drivers have gone.
Once you have installed the new drivers try running the game. I would all so reconmmend downloading
this that will test you GFX card and if you get any fuzzy images or crashing during the test then its the GFX card overheating.
Hope this helps.
Thanks,