Ok, so ive read every topic about this game crashing on windows 7 ... attempted to apply every solution and a grand total of 0 of them have worked.
ive got a digital download version 2.8.7.1

setting core affinity didnt work, compatibility settings didnt work, non widescreen res didnt work.

ive got a lovely folder of dumps in the e2150 escape from the blue planet folder, referencing to memory access violations.
my game loads as normal actually on a 1400x900 res, and this happens regardless of whichever compatibility settings that i use - and display modes, d3d / d3d primary display, open gl does not work on windows 7 point and case, so ive learned in my googling.
but i digress, the game loads fine, but as soon as i try to load any missions it boots me with a large windows error message saying the program has stopped working.

just for good measure, im posting one of these ...
******************************************************************
C:\Program Files (x86)\TopWare\Earth 2150\Earth2150.exe
Wed Jul 26 08:09:02 2000
Wed Mar 21 03:45:05 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------
Unhandled Exception
Code: c0000005
Description: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION
Exception address: 0x03159a30
Registers: EAX = 0x03159a30 EBX = 0x00000004 ECX = 0x00000000 EDX = 0x00000008
Registers: ESI = 0x03158360 EDI = 0x0315836c EBP = 0x0018f748 ESP = 0x0018f738
Registers: EIP = 0x03159a30 CS = 0x00000023 SS = 0x0000002b Flg = 0x00210206
Registers: DS = 0x0000002b ES = 0x0000002b FS = 0x00000053 GS = 0x0000002b

Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
module not accessible
address: 0x03159A30
Module: C:\Program Files (x86)\TopWare\Earth 2150\Earth2150.exe
module not accessible
address: 0x00570E40
module not accessible
address: 0x00463890
module not accessible
address: 0x00655983
module not accessible
address: 0x0062B003
module not accessible
address: 0x00627953
module not accessible
address: 0x0062989A
module not accessible
address: 0x00655B70
module not accessible
address: 0x0062B003
module not accessible
address: 0x0062AD46
module not accessible
address: 0x006680DA
module not accessible
address: 0x0040A9FF
module not accessible
address: 0x00409F49
module not accessible
address: 0x00720C83
Module: C:\Windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
module not accessible
address: 0x7610339A
Module: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
module not accessible
address: 0x77709EF2
module not accessible
address: 0x77709EC5
------------------------------------------------------------------

Edit: by default my system has microsoft idiot protection turned off (ie all my games run as admin regardless of what they would normally do.)

it occurred to me that i had DEP set on the wrong mode, maybe id been awake too long at that point ... X.x

Had same problem running as admin with 640x480x16 windowed + compatibility mode on but get same Unhandled exception what now?


edit: Is it possible thats another game that Integrated Intel 4500 MHD chipset kills?

hay guys. i have a suggestion which may help.

firstly try running the game as an administrator. this can sometimes fix unusual bugs within games.

hope this helps :D

It's DEP that's the problem on Win 7 x64.

I had the exact same problem as you and this fixed it. Open "Computer" then right click -> Properties -> System Protection -> Advanced -> Performance -> Data Execution Prevention then "Add" the executable for the game. Not the shortcut but the .exe file.