Memory could not be 'written' and screen "cracks"

[chaoswithin]

Two Questions.  But first,

Not sure what exactly to post for comp info, so here goes:

Microsoft Windows XP
Professional
Version 2002
SP2
23.9GB of 57.2GB used
AMD Athlon XP 2000+
1.67GHz
512 MB of RAM


Ok?  Now, to the point.  
First-
When I'm playing certain games (mainly WarCraft: RoC and FT) The game closes and this is the message I get:



No, this probablem is NOT limited to only Warcraft, it happens in other games too.  I have tryed reinstalation, no success.  System Restore? Nothing.  The computer was custom made from scratch, so if you cant think of anything, could it be something connected wrong and if so, what?


Second-
If it doesnt give me this message, then it does something else.  The speakers will make a crackeling sound, and then the image on the screen will look like its "broken".  Cant take a screenshot b/c the comp freezes up.  It displaces images and there are "cracks" in the screen... could this be from my graphics card?  I dont know much about comps, so if thats way off, dont flame lol.

Any help to either ques is much loved.

[Zylstra]

Is this a legal copy of the game(s)?
Somethimes, copied/pirated games will do this, it just happens. It could also be a memory problem, but I am not too sure.

[chaoswithin]

Yes, it is a legal copy of the game.  Brand new actually- I cracked my old disc after 3 yrs and bought a new set w/ brand new keys literally 3 days ago.  Problem has happened both before AND after the new version was bought.  When i first installed it, it was from a scartched disc, so i thought that was the issue and unistalled/reinstalled the game using the new discs but to no avail.  And again, this issue is not limited to this single game.  If it is a memory problem, is the solution a new part I would need or a some type of program?

[Fed]

Try disabling other running programs, especially Norton if you have it.

[chaoswithin]

:-/ ive tried.  Closed all non-system programs using the task manager> proscesses.  I even went risky and shut down AVG, my main anti-virus program.  Used my good friend google and searched for every running progress before closing them all to check for viruses or questionable programs- I either knew what every caused every process or it was a nessasary process.

[Fed]

Is Windows and all your drivers up to date from the manufacturer's websites?

[chaoswithin]

oui.  I check monthly.  :-/ lol, im just killing everything aint i...  but again, im no nothing of computers but still suspect either somethings hooked up wrong, a faulty part *b/c im not usre where he got em from*, or something is funny w/ my graphics card *mainly regarding the "cracking"*

[Fed]

What graphics card do you have?

[chaoswithin]

umm... im very unsure if this is it, but in My Computer the folder is
NVDIA > WIN2KXP > 81.94 > a bunch of files.
I know it has to DO WITH the graphics card, but unsure if IT IS the graphics card... well, the card is a part right? so i mean, it should at least say what card it is im using... i think

[chaoswithin]

tryed to reinstall the driver...

NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200

has not passed windows logo testing to verify its compatability with Windows XP

[Fed]

Don't worry about the windows testing, microsoft would have you using drivers that are 2 years old.

[chaoswithin]

well... i now have a NVDIA icon in the task bar that ive nvr seen before, which means i changed something... ill test the game later on and post the results.  But supposing it is a memory problem, what would cause that?

[Fed]

Test your RAM just to be sure.
http://www.memtest.com

Edit: http://www.memtest86.com/  

[chaoswithin]

did you mean memtest86? and if so, its too complicated for me

[Fed]

It's easy, just download the file, double click it & it will create a floppy for you.
Then just boot your computer to the floppy and let it rip for an hour or so.