We bought a new PC about nine months ago (yes it has taken me this long to do something about it, but for the record I tried once but nothing worked) and it never played any of my games properley.

It usually has problems with newer PC games, such as Halo and FarCry. I was really pissed when I bought Halo for $70 and found I couldn't run the game.

Here are my PC specs. I'll just read the sticker on my PC lol

Intel Pentium 4 Processor - 2.8GHz
512mb 333MHz DDR SDRAM
NVIDIA GeForce4 with 64MB DDR Video Memory

Anyway thats whats on the sticker. Now to say the problem in more detail.

I can only play the games, and this is any game, if I disable the Plug and Play feature of my computer. This is a problem because it disables alot of the computers features, including the sound and I have to restart the comp everytime I want to play. The computer came like this straight off the bat aswell so it bloody annoying when you hand over all that cash for something that doesn't work.

I tried updating my drivers, stopping certain features running but nothing works unless I disable plug and play totally. I went to Harvery Norman and told them the problem, but the warrantty only covers hardware problems. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US WHEN WE BOUGHT IT!!

So any suggestions? I don't know why I thought about it again though. To quote Ned Flander's Dad, "We tried nothing and we're all out of ideas maaaannn." - or something similar.


EDIT - is my situation that hopeless :crybaby: *breaks down and cries*

That is really weird... What exactly happenes when you try to play a game?

Your PC should be able to run the game, you sure you got the latest Direct X installed? And is there any programs installed that may cause a conflict of some kind?

I hate problems like this, but wierd problems are a Microsoft specialty.

I'd just format the PC and re-install windows, while testing the games after each piece of software you install. I've had to do this to figure out the culprits, and it usually works.

Drastic measure, but after 9 months, it seems like a drastic measure has to be taken.

A good reason not to buy from Hardly Normal.

I'll also point out that with your vidcard you still wouldn't have been able to run Halo and Far Cry at decent graphical levels.

Having said that, I'd suggest a reinstall as well.

Have you tried installing any of the windows service packs, or any of the other windows updates?

Shit, people answered! :o

Anyhoo, I have reformatted the computer once and tried the game, it doesn't work. As for what happens when I load it, it just goes to that smaller square saying Halo then comes up with that error box asking me if I want to send a report.

Yes I have tried installing window's service packs. the last one (no. 2 i think) wouldn't install though

Oh and I have tried reinstalling the game aswell many times. I have the latest Direct X 9.0B. Something weird though, I could play the COD demo the other day no problems, the whole thing is just so random, which pisses me off.
Basically because of this problem I've stopped buying PC games :(

Maybe I should call a technician? I just want it working.

It definately sounds software related, and considering that you can't install the service pack, it must be a serious software problem.

When you reformatted, what did you install exactally?

I suggest you download and install Direct x 9.0c, and Windows Service Pack 2
Failing that, format again, and ONLY install Windows and the above updates. ;)

When I reformatted I installed the usual, like Microsoft Office and Nvidea driver and then Halo, and it still didn't work.

As for the service packs, well yeah it wouldn't install number 2 so I guess I will reformat soon, but it very annoying having to do all that. I'll get DirectXc now see if it improves anything but I doubt it.

Well my friend is having a similar problem at the moment; he can't seem to install anything...it either gives him and error message or resets...and I can' figure out what's going on, he's reformatted, reinstalled windows and everything. :wacko:


But yeah, good luck with it. ;)

What nVidia driver, exactly, did you install? I have the same video card but I'm only running a P4 1.6GHz and 256mb RAM it's a bit dodgy but most of the time games install properly even though no new games (just about no new games made in the past year or two) run smoothly but I can still play them, they're dodgy though... I'm getting a new computer at the end of the year though so it's going to be good and such.

I don't know why your computer is acting up, sorry.