Hi

I am running Windows7x64 and installed Fallout as downloaded and then the 1.2 something patch suggested & the hi res patch. I started having a crash partway through the game when I was traveling from one location to another -- it doesn't happen on a particular location, but interrupts partway through as though I ran into some scorpions, shows the attached image with an audio loop and freezes. Reading around the forums it said to install 1.3, which I did do, but it invalidated my save file. So I started over and now it's happening again =[. Please help!

quick look in patches section of NMA and found this:

Change-log for version 3.03:
Fixed a bug which could cause the game to crash if one of the vault water level warning videos were played.

which is the problem you're experiencing i believe, so apparently you should update the HR patch also and not just the game itself. (i guess you're using the 2.2b version of the HR patch.)

edit:
forgot the link to the patch.

Ah, it seems I had the 3.02 HR patch, not 3.03. I got it and applied it, so I hope it works. Thanks!

I've never actually played fallout before, so I'm itching to know what happens! :)

you're welcome, i hope it works as well since it's a fine game and so you could enjoy it like many of us have ;)