Windows XP x64 --- just locks up

[cyclone3d]

When  I try to run anything besides the \"recover\" updater, it usually just has a window that pops up with nothing in it, then my computer locks up.

Sometimes the GUI will load in the window, but the computer immediately locks up.

Here are my system specs

Abit UL8 motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3700+
ATI Radeon 9600XT 256MB
Sound Blaster Audigy
Windows XP x64

I do not have anything besides Avast! virus scanner running in the background. Disabling it does not help.

I have tried the latest ATI drivers (6.2), and the 5.10 drivers (as this was the last driver release from ATI that actually worked properly on my card.

I do have an Nvidia Geforce 6800GS on the way. If for some reason I can\'t get PS working before then, we will have to see if it is an ATI issue(which is what it looks like).

I will post back if I can get it working.

*edit*

Well, I was able to get PS to run.... I had to lower my processor speed by 200Mhz.

Not sure exactly why.. but I have run across this same type of thing when I have compiled certain programs with Visual Studio using all compiler optimizations.

*edit*

Anyway, I was able to get it working by lowering my CPU speed by 200Mhz

I have seen this issue before in different programs that I have written and compiled in C/C++ with Visual Studio.
It usually happens when all compiler optimizations are turned on.

I\'ve also had to put checks in certain programs to re-try things like array re-allocation because of timing issues.

Not sure if this is the case here, but it definitely seems like a timing issue.

*edit*

Anyway, it seems to be a timing issue between the game, system speed, and ATI drivers.

I just installed a Geforce 6800GS AGP, and the lockup problems went away.

Before I had to lower my CPU speed by 200Mhz to get the game to not freeze my computer.

Anyway, If this post gets deleted, I WILL NOT post back again.

Please avoid posting two or more successive posts before others have replied. Just edit your last post to add new information :) Thanks! --Karyuu

[Karyuu]

It\'s not pure deleting, it\'s called editing and merging because double/triple-posting doesn\'t go well with the forums here. Just one of those rules. A casual glance at your very first post would have told you this :)

[steuben]

hmm.

ianad, but, are you doing any kind of over clocking on your system? you said youhad to lower your clock speed to 200, from what speed?

but i think there are a few people here who are running it on xp 64 without issue. but, i\'m not sure.

given that you are experiencing the same issue with software you\'ve compiled, i\'m right now loosely suspecting you computer.

with the speed down to 200 does the problem with those programs disappear as well?

[ThomPhoenix]

It\'s possible you have a bad cooler, so on normal speed your pc gets too hot and locks up (had that issue myself), because of the underclock your cpu doesn\'t get so hot and your pc doesn\'t lock up. That\'s my guess  
Try checking your pc\'s temperatures with a program like Speedfan.