Setting the installer to XP SP2 compatibility mode worked here as well. Using Windows 7 64bit.
Still needs a patch to resolve this for everybody, imo.

Thanks for the solution.

I too had the same setup problem with E2 as a lot of others had. I can't believe it's been a year almost and Gog hasn't updated or modified this problem. They either need to do that or rewrite the system requirements to XP only, or clearly state somewhere in the description that a compatibility change to the setup file needs to be done before this game can be installed.

Thanks for the solution, same issue here. Hope that GOG resolves it permanently for future customers. :)

Thank you. This solved the install issue on WIn 7.

worked for me!

Sathariel's fix worked for me as well. It should be added to the Support info where they suggest disabling Skype. I don't use Skype, but the compatibility fix worked fine.

Setting the compatibility to XP service pack 2 worked. Thanks for the solution!

SETUP DOES NOT WORK ON THIS FILE. It does not support Windows 8 and the suggested solution does not work either. This application does not run.

I am still wondering years passed but why they didn't fix that installer :S

Same problem here, and solved with OP's solution under Win7 64-bit.

It's been four years since OP's post, GOG. I realize there are budgets and manpower issues to be considered, but maybe at least take a look at it? I don't think customers should have to deal with looking up countermeasures to use their paid products.

+1

Still same issue.
Win7 64
setup_etherlords2_russian_2.0.0.4.exe

install only in compatibility mode.

I am sorry to say that ten years later, in 2023, this issue persists.
Windows 10, 64 bit, 16 GIGs of DDR RAM, Nvidia 970. About 7 years old.

I can still install and play all GOG games on GOG Galaxy but any GOG games won't install anymore, even though AFAIK I haven't had any major changes to the registry and all drivers are up to date. I'm the only user and I have full admin privileges. Already did a clean reinstall of GOG Galaxy with restart of computer, already tried the compatibility settings, already renamed the Dependencies-temp folder to Dependencies, issue persists.

I also get an E2 on all games i installed using GOG Galaxy the last months. Cleaning up the depencies helps (after restarting GOG Galaxy), but should absolutely not be necessary, especially if the issues is known for ten years.