Freezing during game.

[mikewozere]

AMD Athlon 64 x2 Dual Core Processor 4400+ 2.3GHz
2GB Ram
ATI Radeon x1950 Pro
Windows XP Recent SP

At first, I could just hear the opening narration, but the screen was just a shade lighter than black, could see various elements in the darkness. The narration finished but the screen never moved from it's initial few frames.

Then I turn everything to low and everything that can be turned off, off. HOORAY, it looks to be working.

Then a hint comes up...press Tab to see inventory. I press tab, game crashes.

I repeat process but don't press tab this time. Press 'j' to access journal. I press 'j', game crashes.

So I reload the game again and decide to press nothing except wasd and maybe crouch and jump. I get all the way to a part where I have to interact with a letter, click letter and....game crashes.

I understand the letter is pretty plot imperative too, so it basically looks like I won't be able to play the game. I've got all the recent drivers. A friend of mine with the same graphics card experienced exactly the same problem.

Any thoughts?