Windows XP Problem with Colin McRae Rally 3

[floppybootstomp]

Friend of mine lent me this game for evaluation purposes before purchase. I loaded it up as per normal from original CD's, all three of 'em.

Each time I start a race, I press the accelerator button on my Microsoft Sidewinder gamepad and my computer freezes.

My computer spec is listed below in 'My Stuff' it's the first computer listed.

The computer also froze when I tried using the keyboard and various video resolutions.

So I upgraded video drivers & control panel to latest ATI Catalyst 3.6 dated 15th July '03 and upgraded from DX9a to DX9b.

Also updated Philips Sound Card drivers to V4.05, the latest ones listed.

This game still freezes my computer, it's unplayable.

I looked at the Codemasters site and there doesn't appear to be any patches available and no reports of this problem there.

As yet I haven't tried it on a different machine but I wondered has anybody else encountered this problem?

Or maybe can suggest a way to overcome the problem?

 

[nickc]

Are there any new drivers for the Microsoft Sidewinder gamepad. Will the game run without the pad attached? Good job you didn't buy the game.

Nick