The game just crashes on startup. I've already sunk about 3 hours into trying to fix it - updating drivers, directx, reseating my video card, added commandline arguments... No luck.

Could it be corrupt and I need to reinstall? How would I verify that?

Is there any way I can update settings outside the game, like alter the res from an ini file or something? Registry changes?....

I've loved my GOG experience so far with past games but this is a real downer. Also, I don't like how they direct you here if you're having issues with your game. What, I can't talk to someone that I actually paid? I know it's $5 but still...

Agreed, worst yet, there doesn't seem to be a real fix. All the crashes are so varied on everyone's systems and they are so intermittent that it is difficult to figure out. I've been having trouble on my desktop but not my laptop.

Did you run the installer as an administrator? Not just the game itself, but the setup.exe as well?

Also, are you running SLI or a multi-core GPU? If so, try disabling the second core or running without SLI. I've heard the The Witcher has some SLI issues.

Also, if you can set it via an .ini file, try running windowed mode, that fixes it for a lot of people.

I find the same problem. Install complete without any problem until start the game my screen all blank and back to desktop screen. No matter I how many time I did uninstall and reinstall try to start game again, it always the same result. Anyway,because I still keep the DVD retail version(first version of this game), I decide to install this DVD version into the same computer, I try to start game again and it work and I can play the game without any problem. Then I download patch 1.4 and upgrade the game and try to start game...this time I find the same problem as I find with the GOG The Witcher EE version download from GOG. I uninstall the game and reinstall the DVD retail version again and result is I can play. MY system is AMD 64 X2 4400+ 2.2Ghz, 2GB DDR2 Ram, HD 3800 with the latest catalyst driver version 11.5. I don't think it cause by my computer system but the game itself.

Installed as administrator: yes
SLI: no

Thanks for the help tho.

Yeah, it sucks. I'm not going to waste any more time on this. This is my first negative in what otherwise has been a great gog experience. Sigh.

I am currently in the middle of the same problem. I have gone through this forum hoping to find a solution. I am in the middle of another install after trying several fixes suggested here. This is my first GOG purchase and it isn't looking good. I really hope I can get this going soon.

Got it fixed thru a regedit workaround


press start -> Run
type: regedit

now you will see a list on the left
choose "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" (double click to expand it)
navigate to "software", also double click or just click the "+" beside it
navigate to "CD PROJEKT RED" -> "Witcher" -> "Settings"
click on settings
you will see a long list on the right
find "full screen" and double click on it
a box will appear and there is a number "1" in it
just change it to 0
click ok

now the game should work in a windowed mode


http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f59/witcher-crash-on-startup-378834.html
credit where credit is due