Depends on what your complete system is.
Does it have a graphics card or an on-board graphics chip set?

I've seen a similar problem come up on a custom built pc of mine when I changed the screen resolution to a higher value than 800X600. That had alot to do with the rendering mode on the particular graphics card this one has. After upping my graphics resolution, my Freelancer display went sort of nuts when I had it set the game resolution higher. It develped a conflict. Once I set the system res back to the previous settings , I could change the game res with less consequences.

My pc isn't custom at all. Came with that card. I did think that the resolution might have something to do with it since I upped it recently, but I kicked it back down to 800x600 and nothing changed. I'm a dummy when it comes to tech stuff so I'm just gonna have to get a new graphics card. What would you suggest? I've heard something about nvidia or something cards running fl pretty well.

Since Freelancer uses a lot of nVidia, I would suggest going with something along that line.
If you ever look at your Freelancer Configuration Data Base (note pad) located in the Freelancer exe, I think you'll see a small list of compatable "hardware" along with a list of cards that have problems with it. (I still can't really make much sense of it)

At present, my laptop is running an ATI Radeon Express M200, and although Freelancer doesnt recognize it, (UNKNOWN) it still functions exceptionally well. The difference with this card is that it's running the graphics of Freelancer in "Wide Screen" (probably the reason I got a "Unknown graphics card" warning when I first cranked up Freelancer.

If your card is just now starting to go flakey...just consider replacing it if everything worked fine up until now.
My oldest PC came out around the time Freelancer was released, so it had no problem running the game. It has an intel graphics chip set on the board...and still runs the game without a hitch.

Ok thanks for the advice. I think I'll look into getting a cheaper nVidia.

Here's hoping.

GeForce™ FX 5200 128 MB DDR AGP 8x Graphics Card

I don't see that one in its list. I don't know.

Something I just realized: everytime I open fl a popup comes up that says Freelancer Critical warning: detected that you are running and older video card driver. Get the new driver from your provider or something. It's always said that even when it ran great, but now I'm not sure that isn't the problem. Maybe I need to go to ATI's site and get the driver?

Sorry for so many questions, you're a big help..

That's the best place to go for your driver updates. To the source.
Since I updated my Intel Graphics drivers on my older PC...I can now run some other games that I could not otherwise have done. Also, since with the new drivers, when I got a much newer LCD monitor...the graphics renderings went "off the scale" excellent.