Thanks for your responses...
Yes it says "DxDiag 4.08.01.0881."
Yes I uninstalled my previous video drivers first.
I have even tried rolling back to the driver set supplied with the graphics card. - identical error still
It must be a problem with directx, surely?? I have reinstalled it from the install program, but there appears to be no way to completely uninstall all versions of directX, to start from scratch.
The only other difference from when I used to run OFP fine is the sound card Im using :
I used to use a TBS montego 2, but now am using a SoundBlaster live 5.1
cheers again though