Computer shuts down, resolution goes haywire.

[shimrod]

My girlfriend's computer is a laptop: a Compaq Presario V2000 running XP with an Intel Pentium processor (1.40GHz), plenty of hard drive space, and 478 mb of ram.

I recently acquired good old Diablo I...after playing for 5-30 minutes, my formerly obedient computer now randomly shuts down completely.
I would consider this a temperature problem, except.....when I restart the screen resolution changes to something resembling safe mode. I then also have to reset the screen resolution.
Also, MS Word is apparently acting odd too, although I have yet to check this out myself.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Edit: Sorry, it *resembles" safe mode, not goes in to safe mode.

 

[supra_boy]

could be heat causing you video car to go into safe mode

 

[shimrod]

Update: Tried to open iTunes and got a "Problem With Shortcut - This Action is Only Valid For Products That Are Currently Installed"

I looked - iTunes is exaclty where it has always been - it's just the shortcut that has suddenly become dysfunctional.

 

[supra_boy]

could have a virus
try running an online virus scan this will illiminate the chance that your own virus checker could be infected and not pick up the possible virus