Problems running games in Windows XP

[Kevin]

My machine is a Pentium 4, 2.2Mhz, 512MB RAM, Winfast GeForce4 TI4600, Creative Audigy sound card, Gigabyte GA-8SRX motherboard, running Windows XP. I am having extreme difficulty running a number of games including Soldier of Fortune II, Medal of Honour Allied Assault Spearhead, and off-course GTA3 (although I understand that the game has problems of its own). All the advice I have read simply recommends updating the relevant drivers. Consequently, I have updated the graphics NVIDIA driver with the latest available on their web site, updated DirectX to version 8.1, updated the motherboard chipset (SiS 645 Chip) with the latest available and downloaded the Windows XP service pack 1. I have also installed each game on multiple occasions with patches, but still no luck. The common error appears to be that the games load to the initial menu screens, but will then not play. In particular, with SoF II when the game starts it loads a screen that has black squares with white outlines as a background but eventually hangs. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

[Grendel]

I have had the exact problems with those games, and any game based in the Q3 engine.

It is the combination of the card drivers, XP and the games. I wish I knew why.

I had to install different versions of the drivers for different games. Each version acted differently with each game.
Sucks, I know.

Only other thing I could think of would be a BIOS update, if there is one for your MOBO.