Microsoft Games: Error "Game has encountered a problem and needs to close"

When you start or play a game and an unrecoverable error occurs, you may receive the following error message: Then, you may receive the following error message:

If you choose to send an error report, Microsoft will analyze the fault data and try to identify and correct the issues that are involved. At the time of reporting, the Error Reporting tool checks to see whether the issue that you have encountered has already been fixed. When the tool checks, an Error Reporting dialog box opens that indicates that the tool is preparing an error report. If an update or a workaround exists for the specific issue that you reported, you will be able to click to view more information. If there is no information about the specific issue that you reported or if you did not choose to report the issue, click to view the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article for general information about how to troubleshoot unrecoverable errors.

Microsoft Windows XP and earlier versions

Windows Vista

To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the appropriate section.

The computer is connected to the Internet

View the "Troubleshoot game problems" topic on the following Windows Online Help and Support Web site:

The computer is not connected to the Internet

View the "Troubleshoot game problems" topic in Windows Help and Support on the computer's hard disk by following these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Help and Support.
2. In the Search Help box or in the Search online Help box, type Troubleshoot game problems, and then click Search Help.
3. In the list of topics, click Troubleshoot game problems.
4. Click the link that best describes the problem that you are experiencing.
5. Follow the suggestions to troubleshoot the problem that you are experiencing.

The games that are listed in the "Applies To" section include an Error Reporting tool that you can use to report unrecoverable errors (for example, general protection faults, fatal exceptions, or invalid page faults) to Microsoft over the Internet.

Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151500) for other considerations.