Just got Windows 7, installing all of my gog games to see if they work and when I try to launch Fallout 2 I get an error "Fallout 2 appears to be running in compatibility mode" and it won't let me play the game..the only problem is, its NOT running in comparability mode. Can anybody help me fix this?

If you don't have, install sfall.
Double-click in ddraw.ini and change this:
;Change to 1 to skep the compatibility mode check
SkipCompatModeCheck=0 <- change to -> 1

you could also right click the fallout exe and activate and deactivate the compatibility mode.

Okay, Fallout 2 seems to be working fine now. Thanks for the help!
Okay, Fallout 2 seems to be working fine now. Thanks for the help!

Thanks man, I was coming in to ask the same thing. Good to see that it was a simple problem!

You are welcome. :)

I'm resurrecting this thread because I'm having the exact same problem as the OP. Unfortunately, I'm having more difficulty resolving it.

I'm using Killap's Restoration Mod 1.3.3. It includes a version of sfall already in the content and installation files. When I peeked in the ddraw.ini file, I couldn't find SkipCompatModeCheck=0 anywhere in the text. I tried adding it in, under the [main] section at the top of the file, and then changing the value to "1" as Drelmanes suggested, however it did nothing.

I tried downloading the current version of sfall and then dumping it into my fallout 2 directory. Again, I didn't see SkipCompatModeCheck=0 in the ddraw.ini file (and again, tried adding it in manually, zilch).

None of the compatibility modes are selected for Fallout2.exe under properties. However, 256 colors is checked, and grayed out, so I can't select it, if this means anything. When I choose various compatibility modes (Win 95, Win 98, Win2000, XP) it has no effect, same error message.

Any ideas? I'm running Win 7. Didn't have this problem under XP the last time I played Fallout 2, sadly.

I am having the same problem, unfortunately.

Restoration mod seems to be the problem. I uninstalled it for now. :(

I'm posting again in this thread. I've resolved the issue I was having. Killap's Fallout 2 Restoration Mod requires sfall to work, so manually removing it (like I tried since I posted in this thread) won't get you anywhere, you'll just get a "wmAreaInit: Error Loading Cities!" error message.

However, sfall won't work if 256 colors option is selected, which it most definitely is under the Fallout 2.exe properties tab, and grayed out to boot. I have no clue why, and neither did the No Mutants Allowed denizens, but they recommended renaming the executable to something else. I did (renamed to F2.exe) and was able to uncheck 256 colors this time, and now it boots up like a charm. Marvelous. Maybe GOG did something to enforce generic "compatibility" with the executable, I don't know. Luckily NMA are ahead of the game and continue to tweak this game much the same why Gibberlings 3 or Spellhold Studios do with the Infinity Engine games.

After installing freshly installing Fallout 2 this is basically the only patch/mod file you really need. It (version 2.1.2b) also inclues all bugfixes from previous patches, both official and unofficial, and it really adds a FMV vat-full of welcome additions and tweaks. After installation I recommend going into ddraw.ini and changing the Graphic Mode=0 to Graphic Mode=4 for best DirectX compatibility with most OS configurations out there.

Also, with Fallout 1, after freshly installing it and making sure it's official patched version 1.2 (GOG's version is), first apply the fan-made bugfixing 1.3.4 TeamX patch. Now be sure to apply the Update Mod for Fallout 1 v1.2.5 (restores a few cut quests and NPCs that were on the drawing board in the original game), the Fallout NPC Mod v3.4, which allows your henchmen to "level up" like it happens in F2, and the newest version of the Fallout 1 High Res Screen Patch, which besides allowing true 16-bit color and higher resolutions also clears up the Timothy Leary LSD color effect I was getting with running Fallout under Windows 7.

Sorry for being a dummy but what is sfall ? Is that included with the resolution pack?

I was able to get the game to run by unclicking 256 colours in the short cut properties but now the graphics look weird so all is not well :(
--
Ok the high resolution pack did include sfall (whatever that is) and it has an option for 32 bit colour which fixed my issue.

I found a solution thats easier for the 256 color problem go to properties tab got to change all settings for users uncheck 256 then it should be un grayed now you can take it off hope it helps

For users of Killap's Fallout 2 Restoration Mod, I found an easier solution :D

Fallout2.exe->Right click->properties->uncheck 256 color

open ddraw.ini and go to [Graphics], you'll see something about dx9 mode and Mode=0

just change it to Mode=4 for dx9 fullscreen and your fallout will work fine with no color issues.

@rakkumas

Thank you, that did the trick!

I tried all the methods posted in this thread and couldn't get it to work.
I could not edit ddraw. For some reason, I would keep getting an "Access denied" error.

I then cut ddraw.ini from the F2 folder and pasted on my desktop, and found that I could edit it for the graphics change (Mode=0 -> Mode=4)

I put ddraw back in the folder and the game now plays. I thought I would post this, just in case someone else was having a similar experience.

Solution: open INI file with text editor "As Administrator"... or disable UAC (if you have good firewall software).

The best solution for "compatibility mode" (IMHO) is to edit registry:
start -> run -> regedit -> find (ctrl+f) "256COLOR" -> remove entry for "fallout2.exe"

Clicking in EXE properties not always works correct.