Random Crashes while trying to play Civ 4

[nunbetr]

I have civ 4 gold edition and enjoy the game, i recently got a new computer with windows 7 and my computer will randomly freeze up when I play civ 4 requiring a restart. This is the only game I ever have any trouble with on my computer so I don't think it's a problem with my computer. It runs Battlefield 3 and other significantly newer games fine. I thought it might be an issue fixed in a patch but when I try to patch it I just get an error message that says no version of this game has been detected on my computer! Very frustrating. Help would be greatly appreciated.

[nunbetr]

Seriously though, ideas would be good.