Why does my computer not like the X Series?

[TheSKARD1]

OS: Windows XP SP3
MoBo: ASUS P5N32-E SLI
Processor: Intel Core2Duo
Memory: 4x 1GB
Video: Nvidia 8800 GTS, driver version 285.58
Audio: Integrated

X: Beyond The Frontier
Install version 1.9
Update to 2.2
Version shows 1.96
Start game and get a black screen.
Have to Ctrl+Alt+Del to exit.
Tried "Use settings", compatibility, and in widowed with no change.

X-Tension
Install version 1.1
Update to 2.1
Update to 2.1a
Update to 2.2
Start game and get a black screen.
Have to Ctrl+Alt+Del to exit.
Tried "Use settings", compatibility, and in widowed with no change.

X2: The Threat
Install version 1.0
Update to 1.2
Update to 1.4
Artificial Life Update
No Copy Protection Update
Update to 1.5
All In One Bonus Package
Start game and notice there is no sound during the logo video.
Intro video plays and has sound.
Game freezes on the menu screen.
Have to Ctrl+Alt+Del to exit.

However, I am able to play X3: Reunion and X3: Terran Conflict.

DxDiag follows:

[CBJ]

That sounds like the usual codec issue. Start by looking for some newer drivers for your sound hardware as the ones you have are more than 5 years old. The try removing the Pinnacle codecs (even if just temporarily) and then, since you're running XP, reinstalling whatever version of WMP you prefer.

[TheSKARD1]

Given that the audio is integrated with the Motherboard and the age of the board itself I don't think newer drivers are likely.

To test out games and make sure I didn't have anything installed that might prevent them from running I swapped to a fresh harddrive and did a clean install followed by hardware and minimal software. WMP is a new install already.

Can you elaborate on the codec issue? I've not done anything with them before so it's not real clear to me what a codec is or how to interact with it or remove them.

[CBJ]

Codecs are things that play back sound and/or video. You need a range of them to play back different formats, but there are hundreds out there and many of them duplicate each other's functionality, with wide variation in performance, quality and stability. Unfortunately Windows has never been very good at managing their prioritisation to allow applications to use the right ones, and this has been made worse by the fact that as a result some codec writers have pulled "tricks" to make their codecs appear to be other codecs to ensure that they get used.

Under Windows XP the situation is even worse than under later versions of Windows, as it appears to operate some kind of "last in, first to get used" system, whether intentionally or otherwise. This means that installing some completely unrelated piece of software can mess up the sound and video playback in existing applications that have been installed and working fine on your PC for ages.

The Pinnacle codecs are installed as part of the Pinnacle Studio sound software. The simplest way to get rid of them should be to uninstall that software, but bear in mind this is an attempt to identify and solve the problem, and if you decide that having that software installed is more important later then of course you can reinstall it. After you've removed it you need to reinstall Windows Media Player, downloaded from the Microsoft site, because of the weird prioritisation. If you don't do this then there's a good chance that some other random codec will get used instead.

[TheSKARD1]

I think the Pinnacle stuff is due to a DVC 150 I have for capturing videos from TV or VHS. I haven't used it in years and just keep it installed for convinced/habit in case I might have need of it again. I've been thinking about shelving anyway.

Edit: It works!
Removed the DVC 150 and did another clean install on a spare harddrive. All 3 games start up and play with no issues. I always needed to install them on a second system when I wanted to play them.