Glad you solved it!
In the event that someone finds these results and the pictures are inaccessible, he went to DXGL Config, selected S4.exe, and unchecked "Change display color depth" "Adjust primary resolution" and "Add extra display modes" but left "Support all color depths" checked.

Just for future reference, I was getting the 3D error thing on Windows 10 laptop with Intel graphics. DXGL didn't fix it at first, but after uninstalling and reinstalling it did, but I had to change Video mode from Change Desktop Resolution to Center Image on Screen (I also needed to install the widescreen mode and set the screen size to my desktop resolution or I got the in game bug where I couldn't left click to place buildings or select)

I also frequently get a bug where the landscape disappears and goes black while playing but have found that going into the in game options and changing graphics mode from hardware to software (or vice versa) and back fixes it.


Just in case that helps anyone else get the game running :)

Running windows 10, even after doing everything that has been suggested the game still would not work for me without these few additional steps that I would like to share in case it will help someone else out. right clicking settlers IV and go to properties. on the compatibilities tab I had to run compatible with win xp sp3. Further down under settings i had to check "reduced color mode" the drop down arrow under this i selected "8 bit (256) color". Then clicked "run as administrator". Then before attempting to open the game I would have to change my screen resolution to "1024 x 768". I would then open the game and it would work.

The other fixes I had to apply were the germans patch posted by mustang678, i then installed DXGL and set it to the settings posted in the screen shot by Dasanyx. I'm glad this finally worked out for me I was about to give up on it.

Excellent job @dhwatson3. Following your guidance has this working for me on Windows 10! Thank you

Im stuck at 7. I cant install. It says something about I selected a wrong folder or something.
I got no clue what to do.
I tryed running as XP sp3 as someone sugested and lowered it to 8bit 256color. Diddent work either.

I have the same problem.. THough the version is now 2.3. Meabe its got to do with that.
I tried it on other directories as well and that came up empty. Not the right directory.
Can anyone help?

Hi, the same problem. Any idea how to fix it?

The problem is that that link now points to a language pack for a game called NOX. I don't speak German though so I can't figure out where we are supposed to go now.

Edit: Found it! I can't post links so to find it, go to that site he linked (the validstrategies one). Then in the search bar search for "DIE SIEDLER 4". Click on the "Graphic Interface Fix" result and then follow the steps listed above by Mustang678.

Hey,
Lots of great help here, but i still got one problem. In game I can only mark buildings and soldiers. The marker is on point, but still not possible to do anything with the settlers.

Anyone have a solution for that?

I replaced the dll file, and now the initial graphic initialisation problem is back

Win10, NVidia 980Ti, and installed German Language Pack (2.3.0.0), but I still get the "Error Initializing Graphic Interface".
Help anyone?

And here we are. five years later, and still no viable solution to the problem? Well spent 8.5€

Just stopping by to say that DXGL fix worked for me on Win10 x64

That this issues has not been fixed, that they are selling a broken game, and have been for several years, with no easy fix, is an indictment on GOG.com.

People expect full playability from the get go, especially if it's PAID FOR.