Please Help With Lockup Problem

[JD]

Here is the frustrating problem. I experience these lockups about once a
week, and only with the Windows Spider Solitaire game. I hear a "click" from
the computer, and then--the mouse pointer is frozen. No keyboard. Nothing to
do but power off the computer.
I should also note that when the Spider Solitaire game begins, the screen
"flickers" a bit, sometimes more than once.
With the regular Solitaire game, I get cards that are supposed to move, but
don't move. The space is supposed to be open, but a card remains and no
other card can be placed there. Often a small "corner" or edge of a card
remains visible under a stack or in the middle of the rows.
I understand that the video driver is the "usual suspect," but note that for
more than two years we used the generic Windows-supplied video driver with
no problems. When these problems began (several months ago) I downloaded and
installed the latest driver package from Nvidia. The problems continue.
I also note that we are heavy users of Internet Explorer, Outlook Express,
Office, and Media Player. And we never have problems with those
applications. Only with the above-mentioned games.
Is it far-fetched to think that uninstalling and re-installing the Windows
games might help? Spider Solitaire has been played literally thousands of
times. Is that at all possible?
I would greatly appreciate any suggestions. There must be an answer short of
just buying a new computer! (Or possilby a new video card?)

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi JD,

You might have an overheating problem with your video card.
This could be due to dust preventing proper air ventilation.

--
Cheers, *Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User*
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Visit my MSN Games and Windows Gaming Help Site: www.msce.mvps.org
MS Games Help and Support Center: http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

JD Wrote:
=================
| Here is the frustrating problem. I experience these lockups about once a
| week, and only with the Windows Spider Solitaire game. I hear a "click" from
| the computer, and then--the mouse pointer is frozen. No keyboard. Nothing to
| do but power off the computer.
| I should also note that when the Spider Solitaire game begins, the screen
| "flickers" a bit, sometimes more than once.
| With the regular Solitaire game, I get cards that are supposed to move, but
| don't move. The space is supposed to be open, but a card remains and no
| other card can be placed there. Often a small "corner" or edge of a card
| remains visible under a stack or in the middle of the rows.
| I understand that the video driver is the "usual suspect," but note that for
| more than two years we used the generic Windows-supplied video driver with
| no problems. When these problems began (several months ago) I downloaded and
| installed the latest driver package from Nvidia. The problems continue.
| I also note that we are heavy users of Internet Explorer, Outlook Express,
| Office, and Media Player. And we never have problems with those
| applications. Only with the above-mentioned games.
| Is it far-fetched to think that uninstalling and re-installing the Windows
| games might help? Spider Solitaire has been played literally thousands of
| times. Is that at all possible?
| I would greatly appreciate any suggestions. There must be an answer short of
| just buying a new computer! (Or possilby a new video card?)