I have installed IWD, but when I try to start a game it freezes instantly and I have to terminate the process.
I have tried different graphic settings, I have tried using the mod guide here on this site, and I have tried a clean install several times.

Any tips?

Wasnt even aware I had the compability mode!
Works great now, thanks!

In my case "run as administrator" was the solution

Same with me, "Run as administrator" also worked.

I'm having the same problem. I have a laptop with Vista. So far, I've switched compatibility to Win XP, disabled visual themes, desktop composition, and display scaling in the install shortcut. I've also tried running it as an admin. I updated Vista and my drivers. According to the support articles, the next thing to do is turn off UAC and see if that works. Should I turn it off and try the game or uninstall, turn it off and reinstall? I really don't want to download the DirectX fix (it sounds complicated and I'm not a computer expert) but I guess I will if I have to.

I'm tempted to uninstall and delete the entire thing, then redownload and start from scratch. However, I'm not looking forward to that either. (Slow internet, it took almost 3 hours last time.) This problem is baffling me. I have BG1 on another computer and it works fine, except for some Durlag's Tower weirdness. Sacred worked great also. Is there anything I'm missing?

Hey, it worked!! I turned of UAC and started the game. For the record, I didn't even have to disable visual themes, desktop composition, or scaling. And I'm not running in compatibility mode Win XP. Frozen north, here I come.

Good day,

Me and two friends tried to set up a multiplayer game tonight, all of us fresh gog.com installs. Two computers windows 7, one Vista. We had some problems setting things up and found out that the community and the Internet didn't offer the answers we badly needed.

Maybe this could be of help to players who have this problem.

FIX

- The game crashes (black screen) when creating a network game.
Fix: the game must start on window mode. Go to "/Icewind Dale II/config.exe" and select 'Graphics/>Windowed'. Remember the host port and you can create a server, other players need to be windowed too when they connect. When the game has loaded, you can now leave window mode by pressing ALT+E.

Have fun!

OK, I have the same problem. Recently reinstalled Windows and now it hangs when editing a new char's biography and crashes to desktop when I start a game. I have tried all the compatibility fixes that were reccommended above but to no avail. I have tried in OpenGL mode.
Strangely enough, the game worked perfectly before re-install without any configuring.

Having struggled for a week or two with the freeze at character creation in Windows 7, I nearly smacked my head in when I found the solution.

Disable antivirus. Done.

This antivirus trick just helped me fix the Import and Biography crash! Thanks for the idea!

I'm with the Ferengi on this one, 'run as administrator' worked like a charm.

I'm kind of oblivious to some of these terms that you guys are using. UAC? Compatibility? Where would my options be to turn those off and on?

Shoot, it's happening to me too. Grabbed IWD and IWD2 today. The sequel runs like a dream, the original hard-locks with a black screen every time I hit create game. Fighting with the OS to play a game is why I'm mostly a console gamer these days.

64bit Vista laptop with plenty of stuff. I've messed with the config utility and disabled anti-virus.
I'll try again tomorrow and look back here for any tips. Thanks.

EDIT: Compatibility mode for the win. Thanks everyone.

So... Having the same issue. I have Windows XP and I've read the thread pretty thoroughly, however I'm also kind of technologically illiterate. I have no clue what any of you are talking about, let alone how to do them :( If someone can tell me how to possibly fix this using non tech terms, I would be really grateful...