Help!

The first time I installed Sins Empire I could play it and it worked fine.  But when I got Entrenchment and downloaded all the new versions for both of the games I could play it once or twice.  But the next day when I pushed the shortcut button and pushed play it wouldn't start.  The screen went black and practically froze up.  I could move the mouse around but I couldn't get out of the black screen.

I uninstalled it and then installed sins and entrenchment and started them and tried to run them both from impulse but it did the same thing.

I need help.  Can anyone refer me an answer or a place where an answer could be found.  Or answer it if you could.