I just got Quake from GOG recently, and it's refusing to launch. I'm using a Lenovo Windows XP computer. I noticed that the default version of Quake is gl, so I tried to play it on Winquake and it still wouldn't play. What's the problem, and why won't it play?

Try one of the new engines, like DarkPlaces, QuakeSpasm. You'll probably run into less issues running Quake with them.

But i don't want to run with Dark Places. I want to run the original game as GOG has sold me. I'm thinking that GOG must have messed with the compatibility settings in the product I got, but I don't understand exactly what. I'll give QuakeSpasm as try, but I'd prefer GOG to fix what they've done to the original.

I tried QuakeSpasm, and it still makes an error at launch. I've noticed when I tried to launch GOG's Quake before, GL or Winquake, it shows window that says an error has occurred. When I checked the information on the error, it claimed that the game thought my system was Windows NT and not Windows XP. Something is very amiss in the compatibility of this product.

Same error here. I am running W8indows XP 32 bit. I tried also with compatibility options of Windows 95 and 98 but get the same error every time.

The <gamedir>/music placement is understood by all modern Quake engines (at least, the ones that play soundtrack music). Some of them also support other placements (like DarkPlaces with the sound/cdtracks folders) but if you put them in the music folder you'll always be good.

Is anyone looking into this?! I am getting kind of tired of buying games that do not work on Gog. The last few plus a half dozen more do not work for me.

I managed to get it running, both in GL Quake and Dosbox. I don't how the GL started working, but I uninstalled Quake and then reinstalled it, and then play GL Quake. It played, but it didn't have any music.

The DOSbox version worked well and played with music, but then I ran into another problem. When I tried to increase the video resolution in the DOS version, it slowed down. I tried to check the DOS config file, but there was none. There was a DOS GOG config icon I clicked on, but it responded with "Run DOS Configurator with Start Menu"... But there was no DOS Configurator on Start Menu. Which reminds me, that the DOS version of Quake can only be played on the Start Menu. Why did they make it so complicated?

Well glad you got it working. I'd recommend not playing the dosbox version as it runs on an emulator. Higher graphical and video settings will definitely take a load on your system and slow the game down, unless its ultra powerful. Go with quakespasm instead. It will run the glquake version but with a more user friendly interface.
As for playing music in the non-dosbox versions, simply create a folder called 'music' in the folders mentioned below

id1
hipnotic
rogue

Then download the music files from the links above shared my mwnn and place them in the folder with the same name as the zip file. You will then have a full quake game with music

I installed Quake today, and got the same error message (wglCreateContect failed) when attempting to use the default GLQuake shortcut. Winquake however, did work ... but blocky and pixel looking.

I eventually solved it by renaming the opengl32.dll file so it doesn't get used.

Then I had to create a Brightness scheme for my monitor, as my standard setting is way too dark for GL Quake, and in-game settings don't make any difference.

Now everything looks & works great. UPDATE - Alas it did not remain so, as I have an issue on occasion where GL_Exec commands are visible on screen overlaying everything ... like a ghosting overlay. I can mostly use ALT-TAB to get rid of it, but that gives the screen (window) a bright lime green border that pulses and irritates. So it is best to restart the game ... sometimes a few times until it shows a normal Quake start screen.

Windows XP Laptop (32 bit).

EDIT
I decided to try some modern Quake engines, to see if things were improved.
First up was Fitzquake, which worked very well, but does not support the non CD music files mentioned here.
So next up I tried QuakeSpasm, which is a fork of Fitzquake. It was almost as good (what's with the coming and going bright Lime green window border?), but did support the non CD music files, so I am mostly happy with it.
NOTE - It seems to me that the GL_exec code I see with standard GLquake, that has the issue I mentioned above, is what is described as GL initialization, and for some reason the Quake menu/demo is starting too early, before that is cleared, and then not clearing it.

I get this error, too, but only when trying to use the -width -height -bpp switches...check your shortcuts to see if they're using those switches. Only downside is, aside from that, I don't know how to change the GLQuake resolution any other way.

try to remove -bpp command

Is there a way to play Tenebrae-Mod for Quake? It looks awesome.

Windows 10 user here. Have the same error when I try to add -width -height and -bpp parameters to launch glquake.
WinQuake works fine but the max supported resolution there is 1280x1024 and it's blocky without glide. glQuake is blocky too because it only runs in 640x480x16.

I don't wan't to use any mods, I just want to run glQuake in 3840x2160. It's listed in video options within the game, but Is that even possible? Also same error happens when I try to run it in 1920x1080. Were anybody able to solve that "wglCreateContect failed" error and run game with one of the listed resolutions other than 640x480?

upd. I also tried to change resolution in nglide_config.exe but it only seems to stretch initial 640x480x16 to the new resolution, so everything looks "squashed" on widescreen.

upd2. glQuake fails to run in any resolution I tested other than 640x480x16. It doesn't mind parameters at all when parameters tell that resolution.

https://quake.fandom.com/wiki/GLQuake
says maximum supported resolution is 2560x1440x32.

Any help?

I run a quakespasm admod. google it. It works really well. It's been awile since I did it. I got the directions on PC Gamer. It should still be on Google though. It ha alot better textures and everything. After doing it create a short cut of the mod.