Direct3D Issues

My computer (P4 2.4 >750Mb RAM, 180 GB Disk, ASUS 1870DDR Graphics - NVIDIA
440, Win XP Pro) can no longer play games that use direct3d. I have check
using dxdiag and found that when performing tests on direct3d, the screen
flickers, goes blank and reverts back to dxdiag window saying that the
direct3d test was cancelled because a button was pressed (even though NO
button/key was pressed). I have tired disabling and re-enabling the
direct3d. i have reinstalled directx9b nothing seems to work.
how can i investigate this issue further? can i do a 'factory' reset on the
3d drivers?
I am puzzled as this affects TWO of my computers (both with NVIDIA graphics
chipsets). Both computers used to work perfectly. I don't know why they
stopped (although my 3 year old son did restart one by pressing the nice big
power button on the tower! and that might have made an impact!).
Whanks for your advice!
Cheers,
b

Below is the dxdiag information that might help.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 6/16/2004, 06:51:56
Machine name: MADBATMAIL
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack
1 (2600.xpsp2.030422-1633)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: AWARD_
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
Memory: 768MB RAM
Page File: 397MB used, 1479MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0b (4.09.0000.0902)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0902 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found. DirectDraw test results: All tests
were successful. Direct3D 7 test results: The tests were cancelled before
completing. Direct3D 8 test results: The tests were cancelled before
completing. Direct3D 9 test results: The tests were cancelled before
completing.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce4 MX 440
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_80071043&REV_A3
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (72Hz)
Monitor: hp f1523 flat panel monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1024,768
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.5672 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 3/24/2004 10:04:00, 4274560 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 3/24/2004 10:04:00, 1895648 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4231-11CF-DB65-0DA002C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0171
SubSys ID: 0x80071043
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}:
Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}:
Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0)
Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D7 Test Result: The tests were cancelled before completing.
D3D8 Test Result: The tests were cancelled before completing.
D3D9 Test Result: The tests were cancelled before completing.