Mathos,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
The system includes either a 32MB or 64MB GeForce 4200 Go video card.
The games in question could be having any number of problems.
Depending on the video memory you have, the games may not have enough video memory to be displayed correctly.
-Make sure you have loaded the latest drivers and video bios from here.
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Video Drivers Fixes:
Fixes from A03 to A05 (Inspiron 8500 & Latitude D800)
1 No display when opening the LCD if the lid state is set to "None" in Windows XP.
2 Flat Panel (DVI) does not handle letterbox format.
3 Radio buttons from Nvidia control panel are bolded with mouse pointer.
4 Lid close set to "None" turns off Extended Desktop.
5 LCD remains enabled when closing the lid with TV attached.
6 Flat Panel (DVI) port does not resume from monitor timeout.
7 No display on LCD after undock while in Extended Desktop.
8 Japanese language/font issues.
9 Displays will not toggle using the Fn+F8 hotkey after an undock.
10 Displays do not return to Extended Desktop configuration after returning to dock.
11 Extended Desktop not functional with two external displays if the lid is closed.
12 Display is distorted after undock with lid closed using the WXGA (1280x800) panel.
13 Mouse pointer disappers intermittently.
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Video bios Fixes:
Lamp Status error when running PSA Diagnostic.
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-Also install the latest version of Direct-X.
-Uninstall any video codecs that you may have installed.
Such as (X-Vid or DivX or the Nimo Codec Pack)
-Try turning down some of game features such as (AA, Trilinear buffering, Shadowing, ect)
If the game runs faster with these features turned off, then it means your games need a better video card then you have.
-Try turning down the resolution on the game to 800X600 to see if that helps.

Thank you for reply, I have 64MB version of GeF4, I also have the latest DX, Detonators, Bios, I also tried each game running at the lowest settings (without FSAA,AA...etc.). The only thing that bothers me are the codecs- how can they affect the Game- Of course I have some installed, because some videos can't be displayed without them....Do you think that the uninstall should really help? I dont think that my problem is caused by the low-power of my adapter-that part of game I can see runs pretty fast, but it looks like it doesnot understand Geforce4 GO.... 

No problems here, but then again I haven't played those particular games. . .

 

Mathos,

Yes, codec's can cause problems because the games get confused and do not use the proper codec.
Or Windows uses the new codec you installed, and the games uses that codec by default.
The Nimo Codec pack caused no sound when I tried to play FreeLancer.
Some of the other video codec's have caused tearing in some of my games.
You may also want to check the sound settings for each game.
When playing Starlancer, it would always crash on me because I had EAX support on in the game.
I have a desktop by the way, not a portable, but the same concepts still applies.
You should also try searching google for news groups that talk about problems with the game.
When trying to play Baldur's Gate II on Windows XP, the game would not complete installation.
I found a news group that recommended loading an NT4.0 Windows Installer patch for WinXP.
Since XP is based on the NT4.0 kernel, the patch installed fine.
That solved the problems with the game crashing.