problem with game not playing

[Trobadouros]

Hi, I had been playing the game Age of Mythology up until yesterday, but then unexplainably the game didn't start anymore.
I tried many things, even unistalling and reinstalling the game I have legally purchased, even installing it on a virtual machine on the same computer. Still, despite all efforts, the game doesn't start when I click on the shortcut, when I start from the programs, etc.
Note, my cds are unscratched, and I'd been playing the game out of a virtual drive up to now.
Does anyone have any idea what is the problem?

[minidv2dvd]

since the program cd is protected and the game won't run without it in the drive, i assume you were using some form of "no-cd". this isn't the forum for those kind of discussions.

[Trobadouros]

I'd been playing with no cd up until the problem appeared, but then I tried playing from the cd - even with the program installed cleanly again into a virtual machine, but again no cigar.
Cd starts turning and then, after 5 secs it stops for no reason at all.
Sorry if I post in the wrong forum, I'm new here

[minidv2dvd]

are they real original retail cds?

sounds like the copy protection thinks they are fakes, if not did you install/update anything that might interfere? new anti-virus, firewall or anything?

[jman98]

My nephew had a problem playing a game recently. The game would start, but after a few minutes it would lock his laptop. I updated his video drivers and that fixed his problem.

[Trobadouros]

Yes, they are real original retail cds, and yes my drivers are all up to date.
I really don't understand what's going on

[Bjs]

Uninstalling it will leave registry keys behind ... use revo uninstaller to uninstall the game ... it should find the registry keys on its way through the process ... reboot and reinstall after.

Try running the game prior to applying the patch update ... retest

Also beware of using the game where "fast user" switching is enabled for login accounts ... the game will fail to start.

Notes: Most common issue is people are unaware of how system / antivirus updates can affect applications ... in many ways.

[Trobadouros]

thank you very much, I will try what you said and if I get no result, I'm thinking about reinstalling windows from scratch.