well, after updating the grfx card driver & re-installing DirectX (I know... prolly no connection), it still manifests the same problem. So either the grfx card may be on the way out or my maya install is somehow corrupt. Next I'll try re-installing maya. if that doesn't work, I'll buy a macbook pro. life will be so peaceful then.

If anybody has any other ideas, please reply & thanks for all the replies so far and everybody have a happy holiday season.