After I downloaded and installed this game from GOG, I red the forum to look for known problems. I was a little upset in dicovering so much trouble is involved in making realMyst run on modern OS (I was upset because this information is not present in the game description page of GOG site AND you can only read forum topics of a game AFTER you have bought it)**

EDIT:
** Sorry for the misinformation, this is not true but I didn't know it. Actually you can read any game forum using the search feature in the Community section of this site.

I installed the game on this configuration:
ASUS X5DIN Notebook
Windows 7 32bit (SP 1)
Intel Core Duo CPU T6500 @ 2.10 GHz / 2.10 GHz
4 GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce G102M

I have carefully applied all the tricks found in this forum and I could run realMyst only:
- setting the exe files to launch with compatibility mode as Windows Xp SP2.
- Direct3D HAL only (no Transform & Lightning).
- On my native resolution (1366x768 @ 32 bit).

All of this and the game ran smoothly, with only one little damn glitch: every 60-80 sec. or so the game minimizes itself! This seems innocuous but is a major nuisance, one that completely disrupts any suspension of disbelief. What could I do? Damn!

I was lost till I found a post in a thread on this forum that suggested to run Myst Masterpiece/realMyst in a virtualized Windows Xp: this solved all problems AND in this way you can run it with T&L and a custom resolution (800x600 was suggested because the original art was created with a resolution of 640x480 and if you use the native resolution on a modern machine, such as my 1366x768 or higher, a good amount of pixelization is the result).

So, being myself a virgin in virtualization, I spent a whole afternoon to configure this solution but the final result was impressive!

Now I play on a fresh new installation of realMyst running on "Windows Xp Mode" sandboxed in a virtual machine thanks to VMware Player.
I play the game in full screen mode @ 1024x768 32 bit on Direct3D with HAL and T&L enabled. The game runs smoothly and it looks very good. I haven't experienced a single glitch so far (I have visited Myst island, Gear Age, Stoneship Age and Channelwood so far).

In the next post I will explain in details how to setup a similar configuration for other users that want to try it.

How to install, configure and use VMware Player to run realMyst in a virtual machine

Requirement #1: this solution is applicable only if your OS is Windows 7.

Now what you have to/could do depends from your situation.
If you own a CD/DVD/ISO Image/whatever installer for Windows XP you can go with Solution A.
Else you must go with Solution B (btw this was my case).

ProTip: the "guest" OS is the OS that will be run on the virtual machine by VMware Player.
the "host" OS is the actual OS installed in your platform (in our case is Windows 7).

Solution A
Use your OS installer copy as the Guest OS.
You will have to install it when you will create the virtual machine with VMware Player.
Operation you need to do:
- Download and Install "VMware Player" (see below).
- Create a new virtual machine installing your OS (you are on your own on this one, I have no direct experience).
- Install realMyst in the virtual machine

Solution B
Download and use the free "Windows XP Mode" from Microsoft and use that as the Guest OS.
You will have to first install it, and then you will import it in VMware Player.
Requirement #2: Solution B requires that your installed Windows 7 is a registered copy.
Operation you need to do:
- Download and Install "Windows XP Mode" (see below).
- Download and Install "VMware Player" (see below).
- Download and Install "VMware vCenter Converter" (see below).
- Create a new virtual machine importing Windows XP Mode
- Install realMyst in the virtual machine

-----------------------
Operations descriptions
-----------------------

>>> Download and Install "Windows XP Mode" (about 460 MB)
- read here: Windows XP Mode page
- in particular read the "Before you begin" paragraph.
- then expand and read the "To download and install Windows XP Mode" paragraph.
- then use this page to download the Windows XP Mode: Windows XP Mode download
- install it (run the downloaded file)

>>> Download and Install "VMware Player" (about 80 MB)
- at this page: WMware Player page
- click on the download button, it will load a new page
- choose the version relevant to your platform and download it
- use the site search feature to look for the "Getting Started with VMware Player" and download it (it will be very useful, you will need it).
- install the Player (run the relevant file)

>>> Download and Install VMware vCenter Converter (about 170 MB)
- at this page: WMware vCenter Converter page
- click on the download button, it will load a new page
- register yourself as a new user (yes, they want you registered to give you this software)
- then you can proceed to the real download process
- finally install the Converter (run the downloaded file)

>>> Create a new virtual machine importing Windows XP Mode
- Start VMware Player.
- Choose File>Import Windows XP Mode
- the import process will start
- Windows XP Mode will be installed
- ProTip: use the default "administrator" account for the logon
- wait till the process terminates: congratulations!

>>> Install realMyst in the virtual machine
- First you need to setup a thing or two in the new virtual machine
- At this time you may want to review the downloaded pdf document titled "Getting Started with VMware Player" and play a little with VMware Player to familiarize yourself with the GUI and the features of this software
- Then, when you feel comfortable enough:
- Set 1 or 2 GB RAM for the VM (virtual machine Hardware settings)
- Set 1 Processor for the VM (virtual machine Hardware settings)
- Enable "Accelerate 3D graphics" for the VM Display (virtual machine Hardware settings)
- Then, find on your hard drive the location in which you have stored the realMyst installer file and
- Share this folder on the virtual machine Option settings as "Always enabled" and enable the "Map as a network drive in Windows guests" option.
- Power On your Windows XP Mode virtual machine, yeah!
- Now Start>My Computer and you should find the shared folder as a mounted unit
- Go in and launch the realMyst installer.

Now you are ready to launch the realMyst setup utility and choose your settings.
To make VMware Player window entering full screen mode use the relevant button in the toolbar.

Hope this help somebody out there.
Enjoy your journey in Myst, traveller ;)

* deleted!