I try to launch my Heroes 4 copy and all it does is give a black screen, any ideas why? I'll try out a few things and if they wont work, then I'll post in the specs

Same here. Works after reinstall but not on the second launch.
Bugs the heck out of me. Maybe a resolution problem.
Does anyone know how to change resolution or windowed mode outside the game?

Having the same problem here.

Windows 7 64-bit (All of the latest updates & hotfixes are installed).
NVIDIA GTX 770 (made sure I was on the latest drivers)

- I've tried switch the native resolution down from 1920x1200 to 1200x800 to see if that helped (it didn't).
- I've tried running the game under XP SP3 compatibility mode (didn't help).
- Always running the game "as administrator" (which hasn't helped).

Nothing helpful in any of the Windows Event logs to indicate where the problem is - it just seems to utterly stall.

There doesn't seem to be anything like a log-file in the HOMM 4 folder either that could help. Highly frustrating :(.

Maybe You have a multi-monitor system? Disconnect second monitor then and run the game on primary monitor only. This game will not work on a secondary/tertiary/etc monitors.

I don't have multiple monitors of multiple GPU's. A plethora of other GOG games work fine (from older things like HOMM 3 to newer things like - say - Jade Empire). So I'm suspecting it's something more specific to HoMM 4 ...

... but without any indication as to log files (that I could find) / tracing options, it's a bit of a pickle :(.

OK - got it sorted, for my system at least. On a hunch, I've started checking into the system protection stuff (I'm using COMODO's Internet Security with both FIREWALL and HIPS systems).

The Firewall rules were all set to treat HOMM 4 as an authorised application.

I've hard-wired rules for HIPS as well - or so I thought - but apparently it wasn't quite enough. Disabling the HIPS section completely, I can launch HOMM 4 just fine.

So at least I've got a workaround if nothing else. It's not ideal, but it's something ... and I get to (re-)play HoMM 4 again. Yay :)

I found a fix for this. My resolution is 1600x900. The game is not designed to handle that high of a resolution. I turned my resolution down and it worked like a charm. Hope this helps some people.

I have a solution for the problem, but you will have to play with the game in a windowed mode (but hey, no streched screen at least).

1. Rightclick the game exe and click on properties.

2. Go to compatability tab and check "Run in 640x480 screen resolution" and then press ok,

3. Start the game, go to options, game settings and choose 1280x1024 for resolution and unckeck "Full Screen".

4. Close the game.

5. Open compatability for the game exe again and uncheck "Run in 640x480 screen resolution" and then press ok,

6. Enjoy the game.

Hey guys,
I found an increadibly easy, ridiculous solution to this problem. After running the game (after the sound starts but there is no image), press the Windows button to pull the game to the taskbar and then just pull it up again. The image should be there. It worked every single time.

It works! Thank you!

I had the same problem.
Starting the game in 640*480 works for me. The game itself runs, stragely enough, in highest resolution.

confirmed
windows 10 with 3840 x 2160
single monitor

With game resolution set to max and full screen, battles view and game main view work properly

I wish these worked for me. The black screen locks up windows and I have to use the windows key to reboot they system every time I try to run it.

I finally got it to work (full screen, max res) by using:

Windows XP (SP3) compatibility
Run in 640x480 screen resolution
Disable fullscreen optimizations
Run this program as an administrator

Do not set any compatiblities. Cant say they not needed for Win10, but last update include GOG DX wrapper. This wrapper is not 'compatible' with 'compatiblity'.

Disable fullscreen optimisation is still can be useful, indeed. Admin run not required if you instal GOG Galaxy and\or game to X:\Games\. But first before starting the game, setup GOG DX Wrapper dxcfg.exe - and this one exe must be started as admin.

I remind, maximum resolution is 1024x768, not the x1024.