confused newbie

[Mandy]

Hi, I am new here. I found this site by doing a search for OpenGL. Here is the problem. I have recently downloaded a few games but when I try to play them they won't open. My desktop "blinks" but that is all that I get. When I went and read the logs they all said OpenGL not found. Problem is I didn't even know what OpenGL was :confused: (still not sure that I completely understand) I am running Windows Me and yes it is an old machine but this is the first problem like this that I have had. Can someone please explain what exactly OpenGL is and how do I get it on my computer so that I can play these games that I have already bought and paid for? Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me. :D

[ZbuffeR]

You need to download the OpenGL implementation for your hardware. By default under windows you only have "software acceleration OpenGL" wich is too slow and unusable for games.

Real hardware acceleration is included with the video card drivers. Not the ones from Microsoft though :) ...
You have to know whether your video card is from Nvidia, ATI, Intel ... then go to their web site, download and install your drivers.
http://www.opengl.org/wiki/index.php/Getting_started#Windows

[Mandy]

Thanks for the help it is greatly appreciated :D