Here's the problem. Every time the game starts after the updater, it will either freeze and then crash (freezing the whole computer, requiring a restart) during the first loading screen, or it will freeze and then crash (etc.) on the login screen or shortly there after in game.

One distinct detail I notice when the above events happen, I hear a motor/electrical device (possibly the HDD) switch off randomly just before the the freeze/crash.

This computer has been able to run VO flawlessly before for many years, until now. In addition to reinstalling VO, I have tested different resolutions, removed plugins, use default settings, to no avail.

Even a reformat/reinstall of the entire system did not show any marginal improvement.

Has anyone else had this problem or are having it?
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OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
System Model K8N
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 12 Stepping 0 AuthenticAMD ~2210 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 1011.005, 2/16/2006
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB
Name RADEON 9800 PRO (Microsoft Corporation)
Adapter Type RADEON 9800 AGP (0x4E48), ATI Technologies Inc. compatible
Installed Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6462
INF File atiixpag.inf (ati2mtag_R350 section)
Resolution 1280 x 1024 x 60 hertz

After further 'tinkering', I think I've narrowed it down to the graphics driver, which has been updated to something it allows and it functions.

Thanks for the info, Surbius.