Once again, I need to ask for assistance. I'm having issues running Toca to the point where I am more or less unable to play it. I am unable to determine what causes this issue as I can sometimes play for an hour or so before experiencing it and sometimes it happens within minutes of starting the game.
The issue is that, at random times, the game will stop and the foreground (the car, the map, the gauges, etc) will "flash". By that, I mean that I will see the background (the track, the walls, the stands) 100% of the time, but the foreground will pop on and off showing up every second or so.
Sometimes, I will be able to ATL-TAB to the desktop and then back into the game and continue playing, but sometimes I will continue to have this issue even after going to desktop and will have to close the program and restart.
I am running the game with the audio and video settings turned down completely (because I originally thought that was the issue). I am playing on my laptop (an HP Pavilion dv9260nr). Here are my system stats:
- Vista Ultimate SP1 (64 bit)
- Intel Core2 CPU T7200@2.00GHz
- 2 GB RAM
- NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600
- DT resolution 1440x900 (same res in-game)
- All of my drivers are updated to the most recent versions available
- Using a Philips USB controller to play
Please help me figure this out. I suck bad enough at racing games already, so you can imagine how frustrating it is to be trying my hardest to win and have the game lock up on me.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Crash

Well, I've given up on playing Toca unless/until someone gives me the secret tweak that fixes my problem. It's to the point where I don't even want to start a race because there's a REALLY good chance that it is going to freeze and result in me having to start over anyway, basically making the game unplayable for me. In five days, I've only been able to complete a handful of two-track races. Oh well, back to my RPG's. *double sigh*
THOUGHT: Does GOG have a return policy? I saved my receipt. :P
Crash

I have no idea what causes it, but I can say that I had my good share of problems with my laptop too in many games that were well above the requirements. The only solution may be using 3D Analyze - a handy little software that can simulate through software any "trick" made by your GFX card. Sure, your card does have Shader support and stuff like that, but it's worth a try - the software is free, if it doesn't work you just delete it. Here's a link:
http://www.3dfxzone.it/dir/tools/3d_analyze/download/
I hope that helps.

It could be overheating or driver problems - although I see you say you have updated your graphics drivers to the latest version recently.
In terms of overheating, graphics chips (and other components) can do freaky-weird stuff when they get too hot - I remember when my old GeForce 6600GT started running hot I was playing Day of Defeat: Source and everything started stretching and warping - my gun model was stretched far into the distance and stuff.
Perhaps try turning the settings and resolution down as low as you can stand, and see if that helps - it will reduce the strain on the chipset and might solve the problem.

Hi CrashLiverar,
Hope that this message is not reaching you too late ;)
Main issue is your resolution -> too high for laptop. As other people said earlier, chips are fragile for heat: it is like drugs to people. You never know what is happening.
Laptops are not designed for hardcore gaming. That is the reason that static graphics are staying on place, but moving obstacles are calculated randomly. Heat is your main problem.
Some practical help with no warranty options:
1. Put your laptop on something where air can flow under your laptop. Means better ventilation for whole laptop.
2. If this not help try this: Buy 3M gelpack (I know at least those are coloured blue) which can be put in freezer. After few hours put that under your laptop. It will keep your laptop colder, but beware of moist which is coming because of temperature difference. It works.
3. Of course you can reduce your graphic options first to minimum, try it and if it works, put better values until you got your level where laptop is starting to crash.
Regards,
Noble

Guy I know's laptop kept crashing all the time, not even while gaming. His memory was overheating. A laptop stand that raised it a few inches above the desktop, and it also angled it back (making the hot air rising creating a directional flow across the bottom of the laptop) Now the laptop runs fine, although I did have to replace a stick of memory first, as well. Note that brand new memory gave errors in a memory test when it got too hot, but didn't error when cool. The memory stick I replaced gave errors when cool also, hence why it had to be replaced. Unfortunately, replacing a laptop GPU isn't much an option for most laptops.

A cooling mat worked wonders on my old laptop. These should be bundled with laptops in my opinion, they're really essential, especially in hot months.