Green_Hilltop: Since you own the game legally, you could always download a CD version and see if it works better. If it does, there's something wrong with the GOG version of the game and they should consier replacing it with that one and add the relevant patches to it, and link to the Win 8/10 ones in a sticky here. They've actually done that before, although in that case they were either missing a different language version or it was a floppy to CD version upgrade, I'm not sure, and a regular GOG user provided the copy for them.

jjstraka34: EVERY issue is fixable fairly easily except for the underwater and nighttime blackness, which not everyone experiences. If the darkness issue is fixed, then the game is essentially fixed for modern systems. But there is not a single solution on the internet for this problem, and I've looked anywhere Might and Magic IX has EVER been discussed.

Green_Hilltop: I have a solution: install on your PC VMware or Virtual Box (I hear the latter is better nowadays) and put Win 98 or 2000 on it, and try running the game through it. It might be a bit longer to get running when you first set it up, but if it fixes your problem, it's worth it, and running it after that should be easy.

jjstraka34: I've done this in the past as well. Might and Magic IX doesn't even start in in Virtual Box, sadly.....

roy.kossen: This game is hit and miss.
I have 3 different systems it runs flawless on 2 of them, on the 3rd there were lots of problems.
Here are my results from best to worst.
1. It runs best on my Win7 desktop machine with a intel cpu and nvidia card. No additional patches, just the basic GoG version (1.3 Telp).

2. On my linux (xubuntu 16.04) desktop machine with intel cpu integrated gfx, it runs flawless using Wine 2.7 (albeit with some frame skips sometimes). No additional patches, just the basic GoG version (1.3 Telp).

3. On my Win10 laptop with intel/nvidia combo, I had to install an additional patch to get it to run, however, menu's were opening slow (10 seconds). Another patch fixed that however, once it became night, the 3D graphics disappeared and besides from the 2D UI everything was black. Once day began the 3D would be visible again.

I gave up getting it to run playable on laptops and windows 10.

jjstraka34: I have NEVER had more frustration in getting a game to run than Might and Magic IX. Over the course of 3 separate laptops, I have not been able to get this game to run properly, despite using all the fixes, not using the fixes, using one fix but not the other, trying ever compatibility mode available, setting the game affinity to one core, etc etc etc. Nothing works. The game still starts with a black screen, it still freezes for over half a minute when opening menus, it still causes the screen to go black underwater and after 6pm in-game. This is on Windows 8 computers and Windows 10 computers, dealing with 3 separate integrated graphics cards, and a dedicated Nvidia one most recently. This game does not work as sold with any modern operating system. I have to ask that (if possible) SOME solution be found, or I think it's incumbent upon GOG to stop selling this game as it's packaged. I have literally been trying to get it to work for over two years, and it simply has not happened.

FatJai2023: I am using a laptop with Windows 11, and I have an external monitor connected as extended desktop. What I did was simply "set the external monitor as the primary display." Doing this made the game open on the external monitor, and suddenly, it started working. No need for compatibility modes or any other changes in settings. No one seems to have mentioned this solution online. I'm not sure if this can help you, but you can give it a try.