Alright, cut me some slack here because I know absolutely nothing about computers.. This is the only info I know about my computer from doing the scan on this website: Manufacturer: Micro-star international co., ltd Model: Ms-7211 OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional CPU/Ram: 2.994 GHz / 1022 MB Video Card: RADEON 9800 PRO Sound Card: Envy24 Family Audio Controller WDM I have been playing the sims 2 on this computer for years, and never had a problem. Recently however, little white dots starting showing up in the game, and then shortly after the screen would freak out, and go black. Ctrl+Alt+Del will not work, nothing works. I have to turn off my computer by the power button. Please help me.

That's a sign that the video card is overheating. Open the case & blow the dust out of ALL the heatsinks. Do NOT use a vaccuum. Check the video card to make sure the fan spins freely & that it's not all dust clogged.

Well I took the video card out, and overheated it was. I barely touched the fan, and a brownish plastic part, that used to be white, flew off the fan and it broke. So I actually went and bought a new one. I still have no idea how to install it so for now I'm stuck with no sims, and my laptop. Thank you for your help though, at least I figured out what my problem was, ha.