I am using WindowsXP operating system. The computer and system are over four years old and the operating system has all the latest updates. When I am playing games, I am suddenly kicked out of the game program and returned to my desktop with the game program shown minimalized in the bottom tray. When I click on the minimalized bar, I am returned to the game temporarily. After anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, I am again kicked out of the game to the desktop as before. This continues to happen time after time. I do not know what has recently happened to cause this problem, but I need a soulution

Your video card may be failing. First update the video drivers because that is an easy thing to do. If you have a branded OEM machine (Dell, HP, etc.) and the video card came with the system get the drivers from the OEM's website for your specific model computer. If you have a generic-built machine or purchased the video card yourself, get the drivers from the card mftr.'s website. If someone built the computer for you and you don't know what video card you have, look in Device Manager to see.If updating the video drivers doesn't help, then uninstall the card and swap it out for a known-working one to test. If you can't do the work yourself (and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!