I just installed NWN last night and it refuses to run no matter what I do. I have tried the suggestions here on the forums but there has been no change and the program crashes right after I run the nwnmain.exe (I get the windows encountered a problem and needs to close box).

My machine is
Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 with
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 905e Processor, MMX, 3DNow (4 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
ATI Radeon HD 4290 chip with the 6.14.0010.7050 driver

Mind if I lurk in here and 'borrow' any answers you get? I'm having pretty much the same problems as you. I've tried all the tricks I could find and just get a crash to desktop no matter what I do.

Running a laptop with Windows 7, Core i3 2.5ghz CPU, 4 gig RAM and an Intel integrated HD Graphics Adapter. Would the weak GPU be the problem?

It would be helpful to list what exactly have you both tried so far.

I have updated my directX files as suggested, run from the nwnmain.exe, run the game with the sound disabled or at different graphics settings. I also tried altering the ini files (change the safemovie to 1 from 0, and changed the CPU setting in nwnplayer). I then reinstalled the game along with letting the test program run again to find errors in the install package.

Give windowed mode a try.
Also, anything else in that error message (does it say which file is the culprit)?

Tried that and got the same error.
The report is in two parts the first one gave this information for the error signature

AppName: nwmain.exe AppVer: 1.6.9.0 ModName: atioglxx.dll
ModVer: 6.14.10.9405 Offset: 00032360

The rest is the information that would be sent to microsoft and at first glance does not seem helpful.

OpenGL error then. I don't have ATI card myself, I won't be able to replicate it.

A long stretch, but grab file from here, unpack it to NWN directory and try running game again.
(and disable Catalyst AI, if it's still possible with that drivers)

Well the file you pointed me to fixed the problem and it seems the state of the Catalyst AI did not change anything. Now I have a blank screen with the mouse pointer after the intro movies but from what I have read I should update my video drivers to fix this?

You may try update, but I fear that downgrade would be needed.
All you need it that .dll file from stable, working (probably older) version of ATI drivers.

But at first try updating to the newest version.

OK run through the mess and the driver for the HD 4290 is 8.7 which is apparently up to date and no change. Also some people mentioned when on the blank screen clicking so that you would go to another page (new game, load game etc) but that was a bust as well.

OK tried that the movies are bypassed and I am at another blank screen but then I try selecting buttons I do hear in game button clicks but no video change. Looks like I will need to change the video drivers like you mentioned.

All this in windowed mode?

Was running in full screen for a bit, just tried in windowed and no change.

Confirmed it today. Uninstall and reinstalled the latest ATI catalyst and associated drivers and still nothing. So I guess this means I need to baby NWN with the older drivers. Do I need to use a program to force them or do I just find a .dll file?