Hi.
When I startup the app it freezes (screen is blank). I have to ctrl+alt+del and kill the app using task manager. I do not even get to see any startup screen or logo.
I have tried the following :
- uninstall and re installed
- changed my desktop res to 800x600 and tried to start it with and without compatibility mode options for the .exe
- run the program in compatibility mode (tried all options here)
- reduced sound acc through dxdiag as well as disabled it.
None of the above options helped.
My system:
Core 2 quad 9550
4 GB RAM
ATI 4870
Soundblaster X-Fi
Edit: Sorry forgot to add: OS : Win XP SP3
Any suggestions?
Thanks

Hello.
I've just installed the game. Any attempt running it ended as above.
My system is:
Athlon 64 X2 4200
2 GB RAM
ATI HD4850 (with latest drivers installed)
Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS
Win XP pro SP3
It would be helpful to have an official answer by the GOG.com team.
Update:
The game runs great on my 4,5 year old laptop.

I am having the same problem.

I posted this in another thread, but you might be having the same problem, so I'll repost it here.
If your computer is anything like mine, it hates .bik video files. Try this. Go into the game's directory/movies/english and rename the intro.bik to 0intro.bik. This will stop the intro video from playing on start up. Then if it works and gets you to the main menu, the problem is with your computer and .bik files.
If this is the case, it might happen with any of the cut scenes throughout the game. Unfortunately, I've never found a fix for this other than to disable the movies. I've had the same problem with other games, and scoured the internet, going so far as to replace .dll files with files from other games, but nothing worked for me.

I'm having a similar issue. I was able to successfully start the game immediately after installing it, at which point I changed the resolution setting to match my desktop resolution. I closed the game, planning to play it later, and when I tried to start it the second time a blank window appeared and my cursor just had the "I'm doing stuff" icon until I closed the game with the Task Manager, and that's what it's been doing ever since. I've tried pretty much all combinations of compatibility tweaks to no avail. My graphics card drivers are up to date, as is my install of DirectX. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the game, hoping that it was my changing of the game's resolution which caused the problem, but it hasn't helped.
@Stormseye: I tried what you suggested but it didn't work, unfortunately.
My specs:
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (fully updated)
GPU: nVidia GeForce 8800GTX 768MB
CPU: Intel Quad Core Q6600 2.40GHz
RAM: 4GB Corsair 240DIMM XMS 6400 DDR2 CL5
Cheers muchly!

Did you buy it at gog.com?

Yeah.

I should also mention that the game's installer passed the integrity check, which I allowed to run before installing each time.
I took a screenshot of what happens after I double-click the shortcut:
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4373/brokenbrokensword.jpg
This screen just hangs there, and I can't close it (or even move it around) directly with the mouse or by right-clicking the icon on the task bar; I have to end the BSTSD.exe process using the Task Manager.
I just completed Broken Sword I and II and I'd really like to get into III again ASAP, so please help!
Thanks dudes/dudettes.

I upgraded my graphics card to a Radeon 5850 the other day and the problem seems to have vanished. So, I'm assuming it was either an issue with nVidia's drivers, or the fact that my GTX was on the verge of having corrupted RAM (which is why I upgraded). I can't think of any other reason for it, but the original poster is using an ATI card so nVidia's drivers can't be the problem haha. I just hope his VRAM isn't on its last legs, too...

maybe it`s multi procesor thing (like in broken sword 4)
please try:
[url=]http://masolution.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-use-only-one-core-of-multi-core.html[/url]
and here:
[url=]http://forums.nvidia.com/lofiversion/index.php?t39019.html[/url]

Well, personally I haven't contacted GOG's support on the subject yet, but I'm going to. After all, it's the third game I purchase here which is unplayable (with Enclave and Rainbow Six), and the three problems have been discussed on the forum.

I had the same problem, but I found a solution which perfectly works.

[i]If you continue to experience problems please go into your "Display Settings" and change the refresh rate on your monitor to 60 Hrz. To change that:
Click Start and choose Run... Type in "dxdiag" (without the quotes).
Click the Tab that says "More Help" (far right).
Click the "Override" button.[/i]

#134876

I also changed the hardware accelaration to basic (DxDiag, sound tab) for safety sake, but it wasn't necessary to play the game.

Hope it helps.

Give the man a big cigar! I've followed the advice and have been able to launch the game properly!

I think the problem is something to with sound in xp & vista, I found disabling the sound from my creative card & changing to onboard sound or headphones into my keyboard didn't have the problem., just won't start with creative through speakers unless hardware acceleration is set to basic.
funny thing is no problem in win7 64. also I found a few posts from steam users with the same problem