melgour: -----------------
UPDATE as of 7th December 2009
This applies only to installers for Myst Masterpiece downloaded prior to or on 07/12/09. From now on, the process described below should be unnecessary
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The audio-video stutter during animations and during the saving - loading process appears to be caused by the forced Windows 95 compatibility settings on the GOG version of Myst Masterpiece. Unfortunately, the compatibility settings are locked through Registry flags, so you cannot simply disable them using the windows properties dialogue box.
However, there is a very simple solution and even people that have no experience with the registry should be able to do it fine.
WARNING: The registry is a "dangerous" place. If you don't feel comfortable accessing it, then don't. Wait for GOG to issue a new installer which will likely exclude the compatibility flags, as this seems to be a problem for most people. I take no responsibility for you destroying your Windows installation.
Editing the Registry
Opening Regedit:
Windows XP: Start > Run Program > type "regedit" and hit enter
Vista: Starts > type in "regedit" into the search bar, hit enter
Windows 7: Search Programs and fields > "regedit"
Navigating regedit:
Regedit uses a branching structure and if you are at least somewhat competent at using computers, you shouldn't have a problem with it. We will need to delete two lines from Regedit to disable the forced compatibility on Myst.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Browse through HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows NT> CurrentVersion>AppCompatFlags>Layers
Once you're at Layers, you should see a GOG/Myst line in the right pane of Regedit, select it and hit delete.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Browse through HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>Microsoft>Windows NT> CurrentVersion>AppCompatFlags>Layers
Once you're at Layers, you should see a GOG/Myst line in the right pane of Regedit, select it and hit delete.
Close Regedit the way you would close any other program.
Final Steps
The game will now no longer have forced compatibility, you can double check you were successful by navigating to the installation folder for Myst, right clicking the Myst exe, choosing properties,opening up the compatibility tab, and seeing if any of the fields are checked. They shouldn't be.
If they still are, uncheck them, apply,, close the properties dialogue and open it again. If they are now unchecked, you have been successful. If not, you can try restarting to force Windows to take the new registry values into account.