So i just downloaded and installed Fallout 2 and it wont work. When i run the program an error appears that says "Error initializing video mode 640x480"
Im running this on Vista, and ive tried it in both compatibility mode and in 640x480 screen resolution but i still get the error. Has anyone had this problem or know of a solution?

Grab the Hi-Res mod from the Fallout mod thread. Download it and follow instructions on installing/using it. Delete the ddraw.dll file from the Fallout 2 folder. That should do it. Any other questions, post again.
If you happen to dislike the hi-res mod, you might try to delete the ddraw.dll file before getting the mod. That might fix it, regardless.
Also, you should search for this error on these forums next time. Numerous people have already asked about this bug.

Well, i didnt feel like downloading anything, so i tried deleting the ddraw.dll file. When i looked in the Fallout 2 folder there was no such file for me to delete.
I looked in my Fallout 1 folder to see if there was one there so that i would know what i was looking for. There was one, and when i took the it out of the Fallout 1 folder (out of curiosity) it got the same error as my Fallout 2 was getting.
So i figured what the hell, and i put the ddraw.dll file from my Fallout 1 folder into my Fallout 2 folder and by some twist of fate it now works and my Fallout 1 doesnt.

Ok, so if the ddraw.dll works for both Fallouts, then just copy and paste the file itself into both folders.

If you're using a custom res mod, make sure the resolution you specify is in 4:3 or else you will ge this error.

I have the dreaded "Error Initializing video mode 640x480" problem. I have patched to the latest, and I have installed the hi-res patch. AND I deleted ddraw.dll. Still no luck. I have searched these forums and the web... no answers that work. I was able to play Fallout1 just fine after installing its resolution patch. I develop software for a living and can't even install a friggin game... how do normal people manage? HELP!
(and sorry for the total-quote post... it was accidental).
Grab the Hi-Res mod from the Fallout mod thread. Download it and follow instructions on installing/using it. Delete the ddraw.dll file from the Fallout 2 folder. That should do it. Any other questions, post again.

rename the .exe?

I actually have this problem on Windows 7 - 32-bit - i was going to file a chargeback on these GOG.com guys, when I thought, just for the hell of it (1 AM EST), I also copied the ddraw.dll from Fallout 1 into Fallout 2 and BAM! It works.And Fallout 1 still works. Shoo!
The funny thing about it, I never had a ddraw.dll in my Fallout 2 folder to begin with. LOL.

You could also try as it has quite few features you might find usefull or convenient. You could also consider installing [url=http://killap.net/]killap's unofficial fallout 2 patch or restoration project as they both come with old version of sfall (if you want to use latest sfall make sure you transfer any settings from old ddraw.ini to new one before overwriting).

I get "Error initializing video mode 640x480" when trying to run setup....

Same here, how the hell do you get past THAT?

There are a few things you can do. One is to run the program as an adminstrator and set the compatibility mode to windows XP SP3. One other thing you could try doing is using this tool that I found to try playing the game and see if it works. Since I'm pretty sure you downloaded and installed the game already you shouldn't have any problems actually opening the game up, but many people have complained about display issues that make Fallouts 1 & 2 unplayable. You can download the tool and see if it helps getting the game to run. When you run the tool though, try running it as an administrator too to make sure it works properly.
http://blog.macuyiko.com/2009/07/solving-color-problem-red-grass-purple.html

I fixed this problem on Vista by downloading the High Resolution patch from NMA (http://www.nma-fallout.com/). Then manually editing "f2_res.ini". Find:
;Set the screen resolution here
SCR_WIDTH=640
SCR_HEIGHT=480
;Set the number of colours here
; 8 for 8bit(original)
; 16 for 16bit colour (set only if your not using Sfall with graphics modes 4 or 5)
COLOUR_BITS=8
Set the resolution to what you want and change COLOUR_BITS to 16