I was getting this error and many more like it.
What I did was buy a new Video Card!!!!
ATI Raedon X800 took care of all my problems with crashing in the game.
I did not re-install the game or anything. NVidia has problems with their software and drivers and maybe their cards, don't know...but I do know by just changing out my Video Card all my problems went bye=bye..
ATI Drivers work great!!!!