I just purchased and installed the game today, however, the game does not load . A small tab begins to open on the task bar, but closes after 3 seconds and nothing happens .
Is there a way to play it ~without using GoG ?

Which game? And if you mean "play it without Galaxy", yes. In your game account, click on the game, click on "Download Offline Backup Game Installers", and if you download and install the files under that, it'll install directly without using / needing Galaxy.

Sorry, Knights and Merchants .
I just bought the computer 2 weeks ago, so everything is new .
The "download offline backup game installers" , am I able to save that to my computer or is an external device needed?
Thank you for your time.

Which operating system?

I don't own the game so I can't help you troubleshooting, but (assuming you're using Windows) the files you download are normal Windows installer files that you save to disc and run (think of them as no different to how you download popular application software like Firefox, VLC, etc).

Edit: The dedicated sub-forum is here:-
https://www.gog.com/forum/knights_and_merchants_peasants_rebellion#1564491281

Windows 10, brand new HP Thank you

I found solution for win 10.
Search for 'windows features' and open 'Turn Windows features on or off".
In the list find "Legacy components" -> "Direct Play" and check it. Press "OK"

From the subject line, you described the majority of my library. Paid, downloaded and there it sits. Haven't started 98% of them (by choice). ;-p

Glad to hear you're getting help for your game!

I'm still having trouble.
Now I get " D:D Generic failure " .
the small window on the task bar, now has the "KaM" logo, but diverts to this fault.
I still don't understand why it needs to run through this website . I just want to download and play off-line .
I've tried the above suggestions, as well as, uninstalling and reinstalling .

Do I want these "Direct X 2009 files" ? if so, can I find them on this site ?
(windows; it looks as if I can assign windows 7 to the game. I noticed my pc had done this automatically)

Wow... some people are like completely computer illiterate.
How does this happen in such a technological age?

So far, this link has worked .
The game has loaded the "Start Screen" (if you will) .
I'm going to make an attempt to play .

Thank you .

That's like saying we are in the most musically open world but no one can play music because we use CD players rather than actually learning the guitar.

The less you do yourself, and more you rely on someone else, the less inclined you are to understand it. Which is too bad.

I'd like to see them give mandatory lessons on using Apple or Atari BASIC, to give them a taste of programming, along with basic problem solving and implementing simple algorithms.