Thank you for the replies.
~ Swan

Looking at the codes given, it appears to be an issue in the active X (possibly in more). It also id's sp2 and I believe there are updates. Click on "Tool" in your browser then "Windows Update". MS will do the scan. Click express and install what they recommend. Then click "Tools" and "Windows Update" again. This time click "Custom" and look down and check what you need on the list.

You'll be suprised at all the things that come up. Those are just things you may or may not need so thats why they are optional. Everybody usually clicks "Express" but that only updates High Priority udates. Most of us use the auto update but then again you get just the critical updates.

I know it may seem like a major problem because of the shutdown but its not. When the PC main control doesn't know what to do it cause's a loop and then shutsdown (kind of like us getting a brain fart). Better that than to do the old "Freeze".

Just do the updates and let us know, and we'll go one further.

Hope this helps.

If you shut off the System Restart on error feature it will give the BSOD instead of rebooting. This will give an error code that's easier (for me at least) to decipher the issue.

Also...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897079

Have you tried updating your graphics drivers? And if yes have you tried reinstalling them? You didn't mention what video card you are running. (dxdiag.exe is handy for finding out a lot of this information)

Have you tried running DirectX 9.0c setup again?

The general consensus from my brief reading - it's likely to be an error between a driver and XP. Sometimes when a game changes the screen resolution or display attributes or tries to do something "tricky" with graphics, like loading sprites or textures in a certain way, causes the display driver to crash.

Less likely but also possible - it could be your sound drivers.

Does your PC always crash and reboot at the same spot in the game, or just at random.

Is it 100% repeatable or does it work with some games and not with others.

As there doesn't seem to be a lot of people "blessed with this reboot feature" you are experiencing - it's definitely appears to be something "special" about your windows setup & drivers - and not the game itself.

... well .. actually he didn't get to the farm at all - did he?

This was my first post to the comments section this morning:

The first download was from the mirror site - I activated and installed it without issue - however the moment I began playing the tutorial, it instantaneously rebooted my computer.

It also advised me that my machine had recovered from a serious error. I didn’t attribute this to the game at first naturally, however it happened when I began playing the game again. At this point, I uninstalled the game.

I waited for 15 mins to see if my machine would reboot again for no reason, but it didn’t.

The second download was from GotD this time - there were no issues with the download/activation or installation process - however the whole problem happened again!

Uninstalled - again.

I’m running Windows XP Pro and I’ve had no other instantaneous shutdowns since the second un-installation.

I’d appreciate a little assistance please,

Then Merril asked me to post the error message - which I know I should have done in the first place. (Blame it on stress over the poor piggy!) ;)

Hey there #20 Merril,

~~~~~~~~~~~

For what it's worth, I uninstalled the game several hours ago now and I've had no more instantaneous reboots. I really would like a chance to be able to play the game, or I WILL stamp my little foot!) ;P

I really do appreciate the work that you all put in on this website - I know it must be pretty much a thankless job - so I want to offer a sincere thank you.
~ Swan