Graphics distorted halfway into game, comp hangs

[damsel in distress]

While halway into playing games such as nba live 05, fifa 05 and warcraft, my computer shows distorted graphics and the characters become blurred. It often hangs after that.
I'm using an acer aspire T300-24CW,
2.4 ghz pentium4 processor.
256mb ram
and a nvidia GeForce4 64mb graphics card.
I've tried getting the latest driver for the graphics card but the problem persists. someone help this damsel!!

[Flame]

I'll try... Have you been keeping up with your Windows Updates? Have you scanned for viruses and Spyware? Do you have a lot of processes running at the same time as you are playing the game? (ex. AIM, MSN, etc.) Which operating system are you using? Also, when did this start? Have you made any chnages to your system before this happened?

[glb]Flame[/glb]

[Raptor]

What are your system temperatures?

[Damsel in distress]

oh yah
i'm using windows xp home edition but temperatures?
i've also downloaded the latest windows updates but the problem presists.
there's once my system crashed and i got a repairman who replaced the RAM. tt was before this happened. i did a virus check today but it still was the same
Furthermore, this problem only happens halfway through so it doesn't really make sense rite? cuz if there's a problem it should start the moment i open the game.
Also, i've noted that this doesn't happen when i play online using the same game.
I've checked the cds, they can be played normally on my friend's computer.

[Raptor]

Enter your BIOS to check system temperatures at time of crash.

[Flame]

Raptor, lets tell this person how to do that... Many people do not even know what a BIOS is...  :-/

[glb]Flame[/glb]

[Raptor]

How to enter the BIOS or CMOS setup.

Many people do not even know what a BIOS is...

http://www.computerhope. has a capable search machine.

[Damsel in distress]

but when it crashes the com hangs and shuts down!!

[Raptor]

Follow these steps once your computer crashes and shuts down:

1. Power on computer
2. Enter BIOS
-- See this aricle for information on how to enter the BIOS.
3. Go to PC Health section
-- May be named differently in your BIOS or may be hidden. Refer to the mainboard manual for the correct procedure.
4. Report system temperatures.

Additional:

The BIOS can only be entered during system POST. The POST occurs when you power on the computer and it tests the memory installed. Therefore, it does not matter that the computer shuts down because you will not be using Windows.