An Assertion failed in D:\Dev\chitin\chvideo.cpp at line number 4256 Programmer says: No valid video modes supported

This is the error that comes up when i start BG1 from my desktop. (this is the GOG version by the way) My laptop is a Toshiba NB250 notebook, so it's not made for games, however i've been able to play and run comfortably Rome Total War, Patrician 3, Dungeon Keeper, Theme Hospital etc so the Laptop shouldn't be the problem as someof the aforementioned games are far more demanding graphically than BG 1 or 2. Is there something i can do with the game data or computer files to change this and get it to work?

I've downloaded the widescreen mod to change the resolutions etc but as of yet i've had no success.

I hope one of you guys can help me.

Thanks in Advance!

I have the exact same problem, and it happens witht GOG version or the original dics. I am running windows 7, 64...and have an amd radeon 7570 graphics card. Any help with this would REALLY be appreciated!!

I've tried every resolution I can. 1280 x 720 has been confirmed to work with the widescreen mod by others, and I know it works with my graphics card / monitor. I'm at a loss.

If you are using the widescreen mod, did you start a new game, or load an old save?

You are clearly using the widescreen mod. Did you choose gemRB or the recommended option?
Does the game work without the widescreen mod?

run the file BGConfig.exe

>Basic>Hardware
Is 3D acceleration on/off? Try swapping it from whatever it is on to the other mode.

>Graphics>Display
Try running it in a window, my experience is that it solves many issues with configuring graphics with old or buggy games (although it also means the game is going to be potentially too small looking if done on a large desktop screen or a retina display due to lack of stretching)

>Graphics>2D & 3D Options
play around with that.

Hickory...I am trying to load the game for the first time. I haven't been able to start a new game yet. I get the error message listed in the first post whenever I try to run the program...either the GOG version, or from an old set of disks. It may also be helpful to mention that when I tried to launch the demo videos off the discs, I got the error message, "DirectDraw.init failed".

taltamir....I have installed the widescreen mod, but I got the same error messages without it. I used the recommended setting when I installed the widescreen mod. The only config. file I can find for BG is the one that comes with the game that lets you assign spells to keys on the keyboard and such. I don't have a file called BGConfig.exe that lets me switch 3D options. Did I miss something?

Thank you both for your replies!

Ok, since you have not been able to start a new game yet, and you have previously installed the widescreen mod --- I am convinced it is the widescreen mod at fault -- I would suggest to you that you completely uninstall the game, clean out any remaining folders, and then perform a completely clean re-install. Once you have done that, do not install any mods whatsoever, including any fix packs or tweaks. Now run the raw game, and let us know what happens.

I started out that way. Before I installed the mods, I had just the game installed, and I tried running it with just windows 7, and in compatibility mode for xp, etc. Same error message before and after.

Try running Setup-ddrawfix.exe & choose uninstall.

Oh! you are running the BG1 engine... now I feel silly. My advice was based on BG2 engine.
There is a thing called EasyTuTu that moves all the game assets from BG1 to BG2. Letting you enjoy better game engine.
There is also Baldur's Gate Trilogy (BGT) which does the above, and then stitches it together with BG2 into one huge game

Press the [windows key] (looks like 4 squares) and the [r] key then type "dxdiag" (without the ") and run it... this is an Intel chip yes?

olnorton...I tried uninstalling ddrawfix.exe, and nothing changed.

taltamir....I installed BG2...SOA and TOB, and AFTER I loaded the widescreen mod, BG2 ran very well, but BG1 still gives me the same error. I also tried BOTH EasyTutu and BGT, and both gave me the same results. BG2 would work after the widescreen mod, but BG1 would not. I did everything from a clean install each time I tried something different, and I installed the widescreen mod to both BG1 and BG2. So...I'm still at square one with BG1.

Try running dxwebsetup.exe

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

So you DO have BG2,,, but it doesn't sound like you are using the GOG version if you are installing SOA and TOB separately.

If you have BG2 why are you even bothering with the BG1 engine? Use TuTu or BGT exclusively.
Here is a good guide on how to properly install the mods:
http://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/baldurs_gate_2_essential_mods