Game crashes or closes unexpectedly

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order in which they are presented.

Method 1: Check for the latest update for the game

Download the latest updates for the game from their respective Web sites:

• Age of Empires: http://www.agecommunity.com
• Fable: The Lost Chapters: http://www.microsoft.com/games/fable/
• Flight Simulator X: http://www.fsinsider.com
• Gears of War: http://gearsofwar.xbox.com/en-US/AgeGate?source=%252f

Method 2: Restart the computer by using a clean startup procedure

When you start Microsoft Windows, typically there are several programs that start automatically and run in the background that may interfere with the game. These programs may include antivirus and system utility programs. When you perform a clean startup procedure, you prevent these programs from starting automatically.

To restart the computer by using a clean startup procedure, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
For more information or to view steps for other operating systems, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 3: Create a new user account

Follow these steps for your version of Windows.

Windows 7 or Windows Vista

Step 1: Open User Accounts

1. Click Start , type Control nusrmgr.cpl in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. Click User Accounts.
   
    If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.

Step 2: Add a new user

1. On the Users tab, click
   Add.
2. Type a name for your user account, type your full name, and then type a description for your account.
3. If the computer is set up as part of a client/server network, type the domain name, and then click Next.
   
   Note If the computer is set up as an individual computer without a network or in a peer-to-peer network, you do not have to provide a domain name.
4. Type a user password, and then type the user password again to confirm it.
   
   Important Passwords are case-sensitive. For example, “MyPassword” and “mypassword” are treated as different passwords.
5. Click Next.
6. Select the level of access for your user account, and then click Finish.
   
   Note Some games require a user account that has administrator-level access to run.

Windows XP Home Edition

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click User Accounts.
2. In the Pick a task list, click
   Create a new account.
3. Type the name that you want to use for the account, and then click Next.
4. Select the account type that you want, and then click
   Create Account.
   
   Note Some games require a user account that uses the administrator account type to run.

Windows XP Professional Edition

Step 1: Open User Accounts

To open User Accounts, click Start, click Run, type Control nusrmgr.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.

Step 2: Add a new user

1. On the Users tab, click
   Add.
2. Type a name for your user account, type your full name, and type a description for your account.
3. If the computer is set up as part of a client/server network, type the domain name, and then click Next.
   
   Note If the computer is set up as an individual computer without a network or in a peer-to-peer network, you do not have to provide a domain name.
4. Type a user password, and then type the user password again to confirm it.
   
   Important Passwords are case-sensitive. For example, “MyPassword” and “mypassword” are treated as different passwords.
5. Click Next.
6. Select the level of access for your user account, and then click Finish.
   
   Note Some games require a user account that has administrator-level access to run.

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

More information

If creating a new user account fixes the problem, sign out of this new user account, and then sign in to your usual user account to see whether the problem reappears there. If there is still a problem in your usual user account, you may want to use the Fix It button in the following article to restore the default security settings in this account. Then check whether that fixes the problem. Otherwise you must move your data from the account that has the problem into the user account that you just created so that you can access it when you use the new user account.
For more information about how to copy data to your new user profile when you are using Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
 
For more information about how to copy data to your new user profile when you are using Windows Vista, click the following topic title to view the topic in Windows Help and How-to: If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 4: Change the compatibility setting

Note This method may not work for newer games that require advanced features.

1. 
   Right-click the game icon, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Compatibility tab.
3. Click to select the Run this program in compatibility mode for check box, and then select Windows 98/Windows Me from the list.
4. Click OK.

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 5: Update the video driver

Contact the manufacturer of the video adapter for information about how to obtain and install the latest version of the video driver for your video adapter. To see whether applicable driver updates are available, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site: Click Play to view this streaming media demonstration.

For information about your hardware manufacturer, visit the following Web site: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

To determine the name and the manufacturer of your video adapter, follow these steps for your version of Windows.

Windows 7 or Windows Vista

1. Click Start , type dxdiag in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. Click the Display tab.
3. Under Device, look for
   Name and Manufacturer.
4. Click Exit.

Windows XP

1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Click the Display tab.
3. Under Device, look for
   Name and Manufacturer.
4. Click Exit.

Click Play to view this streaming media demonstration.
If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 6: Temporarily disable the sound card in Windows

To temporarily disable the sound card, follow the steps for your version of Windows.

Windows 7 or Windows Vista

1. Click Start , type device manager in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. Right-click the driver that you want to disable.
3. Click Disable, and then click Yes.
4. Click OK.
5. Restart Windows, and then test the game.

Windows XP

1. Click Start, click Run, type system.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Click the Hardware tab, and then click
   Device Manager.
3. Double-click Sound, Video and Game Controllers.
4. Double-click the sound card.
5. Under Device Usage, click Do Not Use This Device (Disable).
6. Restart Windows, and then test the game.

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 7: Reduce sound acceleration

Windows XP

1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the Sound tab, in the DirectX Features section, change the Hardware Sound Acceleration Level to Basic acceleration.
3. Click Exit.

Click Play to view this streaming media demonstration.
If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 8: Download and install the most recent version of DirectX

1. To download the latest version of DirectX, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://www.gamesforwindows.com/en-US/AboutGFW/Pages/DirectX10-a.aspx
2. Click Download the latest DirectX.
3. Click Continue, and then click Download.
4. Follow the directions to install the latest version of DirectX.

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 9: Update the sound driver

Contact the manufacturer of the sound card to ask about how to obtain and install the latest version of the sound driver for the sound card or visit the Windows Update site to look for applicable drivers. (See Method 5 for contact information.)

To determine the name and manufacturer of your sound card, follow the steps for your version of Windows.

Windows 7 or Windows Vista

1. Click Start , type dxdiag in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. Click the Sound tab.
3. Under Device, look for
   Name. Under Drivers, look for Provider.
4. Click Exit.

Windows XP

1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Click the Sound tab.
3. Under Device, look for
   Name. Under Driver, look for
   Provider.
4. Click Exit.

Click Play to view this streaming media demonstration.
If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 10: Remove and then reinstall the game

Step1: Perform a clean startup of Windows

Follow the steps in Method 2 to perform a clean startup of Windows. Then continue to step 2.

Step 2: Remove and then reinstall the game

To remove and then reinstall the game, follow the steps for your version of Windows.

Windows 7 or Windows Vista

1. Click Start , type programs and features in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. In the list of installed programs, click the Microsoft game that you want to remove, and then click
   Uninstall.
3. Follow the instructions to complete the removal process.
4. Insert the game CD into the CD or DVD drive.
5. Follow the instructions to complete the installation process.

If the Setup program does not start automatically, follow these steps:

1. Click Start , type
   drive:\setup.exe in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
   
   Note In this example, drive represents the drive letter of the CD or DVD drive.
2. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to complete the installation process.

Windows XP

1. Click Start, point to
   Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
3. In the list of installed programs, double-click the Microsoft game that you want to remove, and then click
   Uninstall or click Change/Remove.
4. Follow the instructions to complete the removal process.
5. Insert the game CD into the CD or DVD drive.
6. Follow the instructions to complete the installation process.

If the Setup program does not start automatically, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click
   Run, type
   drive:\setup.exe in the Open box, and then click OK.
   
   In this example, drive is the drive letter of the CD or DVD drive.
2. Follow the instructions to complete the installation process.

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 11: Check Solution Center for your game

At the Games for Windows Solution Center you can find solutions for most common issues. These solutions let you do the following:

• Look up top product issues, error messages, and troubleshooting tips
• Find product help from a discussion group or from a support professional
• Find technical product contact information, such as telephone numbers and e-mail addresses

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 12 - Windows XP only: Adjust graphics hardware acceleration

1. Click Start, click Run, type desk.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. 
   On the Settings tab, click Advanced.
3. Click the Troubleshoot tab.
4. Move the Hardware Acceleration slider two notches to the left of Full to the Disable all cursor and advanced drawing accelerations setting.
5. Click OK , and then click OK again.
6. Test the game.
   

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 13: Scan the computer for viruses

The game may close, generate an error, or crash during start or during play if your computer is infected by a virus.

Important If you already have antivirus software installed, update your antivirus program by installing the latest signature files before you scan your computer for viruses. Most companies that create antivirus software release a new signature file each month. After you obtain the latest signature files, scan your computer. For help obtaining the antivirus signature files, contact the antivirus software manufacturer.

If you do not have antivirus software installed, to view a list of antivirus software vendors, click the following article number view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If you have cleaned your computer of viruses, follow Method 10 remove and then reinstall the game.

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 14: Remove spyware and other unwanted software

To learn more about the symptoms of spyware and other unwanted software, about how to remove spyware, and about how you can help protect your computer, visit the following Microsoft Web site: To run a scan for unwanted software in Windows 7 or in Windows Vista, follow these steps:

1. Click Start , and then click All Programs.
2. Click Windows Defender.
3. Click the down arrow next to Scan, and then click Full Scan.

If you have cleaned unwanted software from the computer, follow Method 10 to remove and then reinstall the game.