In the Window Task Manager, you can see it running on the background but the game never starts.

You can have multiple copies of it running.
Anyone got the game running.

Are you using Windows 10? This happens to other games as well.

Why don't you just try the DOSBox version?

HoMM2 Windows runs fine for me on Linux using recent Wine. If you have problems, please provide information that we might be able to use to help you. ZFR asked two questions when he responded to the original poster. Start by answering those.

The winmm.dll file in the Heroes 2 directory is incompatible with Windows 10. Remove that file and the game will launch, albeit with only midi music (winmm.dll is used for the CD tracks).

I have a fixed version, I'll upload it later.

I would love to get a fixed copy of winmm.dll if you have it

You'll need the Visual C++ 2015 runtimes as well: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145

Then, plop this copy of winmm.dll in the same folder as HEROES2W.exe: http://www.filedropper.com/winmm_1

I believe this version:

1) Works with Win10
2) Correctly resumes CD music when terrain changes, as the original CD-based game did

Hello,

Could you please reupload it ?

Here is another link for it:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/354430/discussions/0/490123938438643804

Thank you !

I downloaded the HOMM2 Gold edition from my account page as usual and installed but when I click on it the dosBox program launches, HOMM2 pops up and immediately minimizes to desktop and a few seconds later exits. Compability mode and run as admin doesn't work, older comp modes only cause DosBox to crash before even launching HOMM2. I don't have a winmm.dll in my folder anywhere and downloading and adding one manually doesn't change anything. Using Win10 pro x64.