can anybody help me when I play Links2003 golf game online after about three holes or so windows pop up and says it wants to close

Dear Ray Sciaccotta

Thanks for reaching out! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A. I'm Haien from Microsoft Q&A.

I understand that when you play the game "Links 2003" online, a Windows pop-up appears after about three holes, saying that it wants to close the game. This is a frustrating problem, as it prevents you from completing a full round. Since Links 2003 is an older game, its compatibility with modern operating systems like Windows 10 can sometimes be the source of the problem.

Option 1: Run the Game in Compatibility Mode

• Find the Links 2003 game's main executable file (e.g., links2003.exe) > Right-click on the executable file > select "Properties." > Go to the "Compatibility" tab > Check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" > From the drop-down menu, select "Windows XP (Service Pack 3)." > "Run this program as an administrator." > Click Apply > Click OK
• Try playing the game online again to see if the issue is resolved.

For additional information about this option, please visit this article: Make older apps or programs compatible with the latest version of Windows - Microsoft Support 

Option 2: Update graphics drivers

• Open Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager) > expand "Display adapters" > right-click your GPU (e.g., NVIDIA or AMD) > select "Update driver."
• If updated, lower in-game graphics settings (e.g., resolution to 1024x768) and see if it stabilizes online play.

Option 3: Disable unnecessary background apps

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager > go to the "Startup" tab > disable non-essential programs > Close other apps before launching Links 2003 to free up resources > re-test online.

Recommendation: Report to Feedback Hub

If none of the above solutions work, I strongly recommend that you contact Microsoft Support and submit feedback regarding your issue so they can verify your error.

• Open the Feedback Hub app > Click "Add new feedback." > Provide a detailed description of the issue, including when it started, what you've tried, and the result > Submit the feedback under the suitable category.

For additional information about how to send feedback to Microsoft, please visit this article to know more: Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app - Microsoft Support

If you've already tried these steps and are still encountering issues, please reply to this thread with the requested details so we can investigate further and ensure your subscription is activated properly. Also, please keep me updated with anything new that you were try to each option.

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We appreciate your patience and look forward to resolving this quickly for you.

Warm regards,

Haien - MSFT | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist