For all with AMD Dual graphics: (or Nvidia too, can't test that)

Finally found a solution: DXGL

https://www.williamfeely.info/wiki/DXGL

Install the latest version, then open it and Click Configure. Then add S4_Main.exe

If you are playing on a 16:9 screen, select Aspect corrected strectch under Video mode and click Apply. This will center the game on your screen, otherwise it will be stretched. Then start the game with the shortcut on your desktop. Thats it!

Finally, if you want to play in widescreen mode, download this: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44316563/SettlersIV_Widescreen.RAR

Replace the GfxEngine.dll file in S4/Exe map with your desired resolution

Make sure you set the resolution in-game to 1024x768

Menu will not be widescreen, the game will.

Enjoy!

Thanks to DXGL the game starts now, but left click doesn't work properly so I can't build stuff. I'm able to select things by clicking and dragging (creating a selection rectangle), but a single left click doesn't work. Too bad.

Edit: Turns out this is a DXGL issue, which only occurs if the game's resolution (for example, 1920x1080 using the widescreen fix) isn't equal to the desktop's resolution (for example, 2560x1440). This can be fixed by setting "Video mode" in DXGL Config to "Change desktop resolution". In this case, if you're using a widescreen monitor, but not the widescreen fix, your game will be stretched.

Same problem here :(
2x EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB

thanks alot! this worked for me:) but i still have a problem with black bars at my screen. it wont stretch fully

Great Job! DXGL totally works for me with i7-3740qm and geforce 675MX

My modern HW: ASUS G751JY with Windows 8.1, i7 4710HQ, GTX 980M 4GB, Forceware 347.88

Here is the fix

1. download the archive with Wine DX from the Guide to make Divine Divinity by Larian work fine:
steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=391612884
2. put the files dxgi.dll, ddraw.dll, wine3d.dll, libwine.dll into "...\GOG Games\The Settlers IV GOLD\Exe\" directory

Optional:
3. remove the poor GOG attempt to fix compatibility issues using a useless fake exe launcher "\GOG Games\The Settlers IV GOLD\S4.exe" with flags to:
Run this program as administrator (!)
Disable display scaling on high DPI settings

Buy me a coffie, run the game and enjoy! ;-)

P.S.
Shame on GOG!
You won't be able to set HW accelartion and Alpha shadows etc. and the game will still crash randomly, but at least can run....

P.P.S.
Asked for a refund.

agree.
gog add more italian version and fix better all selled games.

I'm having the same error.

Windows 8.1
Core i5 4690K
Radeon R9 290X 4GB

First I tried pdjonv's older suggestion of replacing the 'dbghelp.dll' but there was no change.

My CPU of course has an integrated GPU but its 'disabled' in the BIOS (ie I've forced the motherboard to use the R9). This appears to me to also be an issue with AMD GPUs, not just dual graphics.

I've tried to use DXGL but it won't even open. When I run the config executable, it just pins one core to 100% and does nothing.

Finally, I've tried hexaae's suggestion. That just causes the game behave in the same way as DXGL, 100% on one core and nothing on screen.

Tonight, I'm going to try the game on my wife's PC. It has the same R9 but an older i5 that does not have an integrated GPU. If that also fails, I'll try my old PC with an i7 and twin GTX 660's.

AHHH

same thing with me, tried all the fixes... none worked, just different errors now :(

anyone got a new fix yet?

ive still got my original discs of this game, they dont work either

this worked for me in win10

I was able to solve the "Software 3D: Error initializing Graphic Interface!" error and get The Settlers 4 Gold working on Windows 8.1 64bit with an nVidia 780 by using a DirectDraw/Direct3D emulator. I believe this should work on most systems. You can download it from the link below.

www.williamfeely.info/wiki/DXGL

I am very glad to see DXGL working for most people!
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working on dual screen setups(as shown in the first screenshot, it render the game on its original resolution on the lower left of the second monitor). Also, the mouse was drastically off center(as shown in the second screenshot, the cursor was aproximately in the center of the red circle I drew. As you can see, the Production Menu was selected). The game still tries, however, to change the first screen's resolution, which only results in even more of a mess.

Further fiddling around with the options and the Widescreen fixes only led to more severe crashes(Fatal Error Exceptions which I hadn't gotten since I last tried to install the German Vanilla CD Version, I think), so I finally decided to give up(for now, that is) as the game is unplayable this way. Good thing I still have Windows 7 installed on this computer!
I won't bother you with more details(even though I should probably pick up my Settlers IV blog again), but it'll be Wiundows 7 for me for now. If you are reading this, and also have the same problem(that is, with a dual screen setup), feel free to send me a PM. Maybe we can find a solution(and post it afterwards) together! I admit that the combination of setup and software that I am trying to run is not the most common one, so it's for me to leave it this way if it's only me.

tl;dr;
DXGL doesn't fix the 3D error on computers with 2+ screens. If I want to play S IV, I'll just go back to Windows 7, as looking for a solution only for myself is not really worth my time. If you hae the same problem, though, send me a PM, so that we can start maybe start looking for a solution together. I am not even sure if more problem will have this kind of problem.

you might have to dummy this down for us lesser people or I guess I will have to find another game to play.

Fixed this. I was very confused - I was running into the same problem but I have a different build from all the people here.

TL;DR: Run the game in compatability mode with Windows XP Service Pack 3.

I'm running a custom built desktop:
Intel 2500K
NVIDIA GTX 960
12 GB Ram

After a fresh install of Windows 10, I couldn't run this. I never got to test it on an old system either.

I tried all the fixes detailed in this thread. I renamed files and download helper programs to no avail.

Easiest fix on the planet! Right-click the shortcut on your desktop > Compatability > Check "Run this program in compatibility mode" > Windows XP (SP3)

Click apply and try to run it. Works perfectly fine for me! I'll update later if I run into any problems while actually running.

Cheers!
Re-try doing compatability with XP and Service Pack 3. It fixed my issue. Compatibility with Windows 7 didn't fix anything, and I"m not sure what you tried. I have a very similar setup to you.