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In Windows XP if the OS suffers a fatal error rather than seeing the Blue Screen of Daeth it reverts back to the previous screen. So what is happening here is a software compatibily issue or the program requires more processing power that you have available 512 of ram should be enough but you didn't mention the type and speed of the CPU and with Gigabyte M'Boards you get a SIV utility that monitors the CPU temp so the CPU could be too hot and being throttled back by the M'Board to stop it from butrning out.

The first thing I would do is to open the case and look to see if the CPU fan is actually running if its not then first check that it is actually pluged into the M'Board and hasn't worked its way loose or off, and if it is working then lift off the fan and clean out the heatsink, if it's not then replace the fan.

If everything is alright there run the SIV utility that came on the CD with the M'Board and check the CPU temp. You could also go into the BIOS and reset the CPU temp shut off to a higher level but be careful here anything above 75C is too hot.

If all wells here then it is a straight compatability issue between the game and XP, is the game susposed to run on XP? If the games are susposed to run on the XP Platform then check with the maker as there may be a patch available to fix some problems that could arise with certain hardware combinations. Also do you have the right speed RAM onboard?

Under Display properties, settings, advanced. The monitor tab on my XP has a selection of "hide modes that this monitor cannot display" is that checked?

I doubt if its the monitor. Your system should run these games with no problems. You didn't mention the CPU type and speed but based on the rest of the system that should be OK.

Check in Device Manager for any conflicts with the display and any other device in the PC. There may be no actual conflicts listed like an exclaimation mark but there may be an IRQ, I/O or memory address range that is being used by more than just video.

For Empire Earth the screen resolution must be at 1024X768 at 16 bit color and at least Direct X 8.0a. Download and install the latest version of Direct X(Version 9). Then run the Direct X diagnostics tool. Also obtain the latest service pack for Windows.

Copy and paste the link below to test your systemfor Empire Earth. There may be suggestions that will solve the problem. Since the problem is with more than one game the results of the test may work for all.

http://ccon.madonion.com/servlet/Index?pageid=/vendors/sierra/empire_earth/welcome

There may be an issue with ATA 100 drivers and P4 CPUs. Seirra and other game sites report this to be an issue. If you have an Intel chipset you can download the latest ATA100 driver at:

http://appsr.intel.com/scripts-df/Product_Filter.asp?ProductID=182

This is some things to try, good luck.

I HAVE DISCOVERED ANOTHER HARDWARE CONFLICT (I THINK). MY VIDEO CARD SHARES SOME SETTING WITH THE "VIA TECH CPU TO AGP CONTROLLER". WHATEVER THAT IS. THEY SHAE THE SAME MEMORY SETTING - 00A0000-000BFFFF. ALSO THEY SHARE 2 OF THE SAME I/O SETTINGS. 03B0-03BB & 03C0-03DF. IS THIS NORMAL OR IS IT A CONFLICT. I FIX THE NETWORK DRIVER SO THAT IT HAS A DIFFERENT IRQ THEN THE VIDEO CARD, BUT I STILL RECIEVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

Ok from what you have said firstly the computer should runn the programs and it actually is but you can't see them as the window is being minimised right?

This IS NOT a computer problem as such and changing any hardware WILL NOT CURE IT but it is a basic software problem. There is something basic in this particular computer that is causing the problem and it is unique to this particular computer. {A real bitch of a problem these are}. As this is a unique problem I would start at teh begining if you have a spare HDD fit it and then remove everything that isn't necessary so leave the vedio card, memory, CD/DVD player and then load windows on to the HDD then install the program/game and see if it works.

I know it is going to be slow work but if it works with the basic installation the put in one card at a time until it stops working. Then you have found the problem. Recently I spent 4 days trying to get XP to accept SP1 without destroying the OS completely and it eventually all revolved around a DVD drive that was not compatable with the upgraded XP. This unfortantly is the only way forward and if it won't run on a basic installation then it revolves around some conflict on the M'Board particuarly if there is built in vedio, network ect this is part of the reason that I avoid these M'Boards as they can give problems that are impossible to fix. Just incidently it was a Samsung DVD drive that caused me all the problems.

I hope this has been of some use to you but it will be a long slow process but once you find the offending bit of hardware it will all make sence. Sometimes even moving one PCI card to a different socket will cure this type of problem.

Lets know how you get on.

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