I was using Windows 8 x64 and I had the same problems everyone here have (I have a NVidia card), but I reinstalled my comp with Windows 7 x64 and the game runs just perfectly, even in FullHD resolutions. So, I can only blame Win8. I just need to test Win 8.1, but I'm expecting the same problems as Win 8.

Just my 2c

seconded that windows 8.1, confirm it has the same problem with d3d and nvidia cards

I have the same problem as most people. I can get the game to work with PopTB.exe but no matter what, I keep having the rainbow pixelly colors. While the game is playable, it is impossible and kills my eyes. Is there anything that can be done to have it feel like my game isn't trying to kill me? I know the game is old but if it is still being sold for money, it should work. Even if it is a few dollars, that is a few wasted since I can't even play the game. I play on Windows 7 64 bit.

That is not a solution, if someone buys a game, they will do all they can to get it working. Only if every solution doesn't work should you be suggesting this. >_>

Thanks for the link to that post! Doing this has enabled me to run the game. Thanks!

Details.. after changing that .dll file...
-double click the D3DPopTB.exe file
-main screen is fine at first, but
-when I exit Tutorial mode, the menu screen is all "rainbow and psychedelic"
-gameplay screen is fine thus far, maxing out at 800x600

All of the previous suggestions below haven't worked...
-reinstalling the game
I did so through the installer, of which that was DL-ed via the GOG downloader program/app

-RC compatibility on the shortcuts and changing them to win98, win95, winXP SP2, and winXP SP3

-changing the shortcuts to point to "<path where Pop3 is installed>\D3DPopTB.exe"


I'm on Win7 Home Premium with SP1
AMD Radeon 6600

Yup - had same problem also. Found I got further by trying various versions of the driver file...no go but then I tried it on my other laptop which has an older AMD card and it worked.
Compared the software version on my desktop to the D3d version on the laptop. No visible difference between them.

Oh well, it is a really old game anyway. If you have an xbox360 I would recommend From Dust, it is really good game along this same genre. The PC version is good but I had just as much trouble getting it going as I had with this

I have the same problem with my ATI Radeon 7750 on windows 8.1.
Already tried replacing the ATIUMDAG.dll with a newer version but getting the same issue as some other people here.
With the old version of the dll the game wouldnt start up at all, i would get a windows error saying that i dont have a graphics card that supports D3D, however with the more recent dll the game would load but crashes as soon as the "loading" window dissapears and the game's application goes fullscreen.

The game runs fine in software mode, but as you could guess software doesnt look that nice on a game thats 15 years old, besides it used to work fine in D3D when i was still using windows XP with the exact same videocard..
D3D not only makes the game look much better, but it will also allow us to run modifications for the game again.
Right now, any MOD made for D3D will not function properly in software mode (graphics will be messed up in a way that the game becomes unplayable) while they are one of the reasons why this game is still popular nowadays (we still get around 100 users in our matchmaking service every day on www.popre.net).

I already contacted EA about this, but they told me to either contact AMD or GoG, since i already contacted AMD but getting no reply i decided to post here...
Hopefully GoG will come up with some solution anytime soon...

I had the same problem on win 8 x64 and the solution is very simple.
Run the game from popTB.exe which you can find it on /Bullfrog/Populous/Game
(Don't use the launcher)
It works for me nd I hope it works for you as well :)

DXGL supports Populous: The Beginning in software mode.

dgVoodoo2 supports Populous: The beginning in both software and hardware mode.

Both things to try for Windows 8 users.

I can confirm EzioDelpatchi's fix.

"popTB" will be the file to launch from windows 8 x64.

Make sure that to launch from "popTB".

DO NOT launch from "D3DPopTB"

EzioDelpatchi and kapayazi's suggestions about the proper .exe worked great for me.

I no longer get error messages claiming I do not have a compatible 3D device.

Both "Populous: The Beginning" and "Undiscovered Worlds" now work fine on my laptop running Windows 10 x64.

Hi guys.

My problem is a little different: I launch the game without problems, with the .bat found on this topic "populous_the_beginning_and_its_expansion_wont_launch"

So, the bat is

taskkill /f /IM explorer.exe
"C:\GOG Games\Populous - The Beginning\PopTB.exe"
start explorer.exe

The game starts, but I can't get resolution higher than 800x600. Ok, it annoying, but it works.

But, after some minutes of game, the game crashes: I see the desktop (but it's freeze) and the only solution is to manually kill both PopTB.exe and explorer.exe (and re-launch explorer.exe of course)

I'm trying to play on Win7 x64...how can I do?

Thank you


PS: another little annoying thing: the mouse moves reeeeeeally slow. How can I speed it?

Ok...maybe I found the solution.

I installed that patch "games (dot) softpedia (dot) com/get/Patch/Populous-III-Unofficial-Patch (dot) shtml" and now it works (but always in 800x600...how can I raise up it?)

Hello! I've experienced the same crash problem. Done shaman dances with directx, compatibility and so on - it has no effect.

BUT. Some trick worked for me. Don't push the "play" button or shortcut, go to GOG Galaxy -> choose the game -> "More" drop down -> POPULUS - THE BEGINNING [SOFTWARE]

The game has run for me. Tried both Win7 Pro x86 & Win 10 Home. And no problem with resolution changes.
Strange hint, but maybe will help somebody.
:)