Google Earth crashing me!

I have a 450 Gateway laptop - XP SP2 with 18g hdd - 10g free space. v2002 is 5 years old but great machine. Have DSL T1 connection and 512mb. Just downloaded Google Earth easily and launched and got the beginning with the earth. typed in my home town to 'fly to' and it started to zoom and then, bang, big blue screen with white letters said windows shut down.

Windows started itself again and said it shut down to save from damage. I turned off my virus protection (NOD 32) and launched again. This time it went right to the blue screen about an error and restarted. popup said it restarted to protect the machine. So I took off the Google Earth program.

Is anyone familiar with that Google Earth and does it take a newer machine to run it? This is about the 1st time I've been crashed.

Chas

 

System Requirements

Did you read this?

http://earth.google.com/faq.html

 

Thank you Sled.

I have a Mobility M6 card and chased down some of the info and forums from that link and think I better take my laptop to a shop and have it done. Seems to be several versions of that card and it's over my head as to what exactly I want/need. Appreciate the help, thanks.

Chas.