I've got an Athlon 1800+XP with GeForce 5200 FX Ultra with the latest drivers and Sound Blaster Audigy(not that it matters cause I tried disabling sound too) 512mb DDR RAM 40+GB HD freespace. Ive tried reinstalling the game, shuting down all my background programs, disabling windows firewall all that crap and still it doesnt want to startup. I tried turning down the setting to a minimum with basicaly everything graphicaly off and still does the same thing. I can see it in windows task manager trying to start but something kills it or it just dies without any window poping up or any error message. HELP!

I don't think this is the solution, but...
I have had the problem of the game not starting up on my Win7 and Win XP machine. Both share a common monitor. Well, I changed the monitor and the game would hang and then just not exist. What the problem was that the config file called for a higher resolution (1600x1200) than the monitor could handle (1280x1024). Changing the resolution to what the monitor could handle fixed the problem.

Oh I tried different resolutions and colors, even matched my desktop resolution and color bit. Tried Open GL, Direct X just about everything. The game doesnt even flicker the screen or anything just an hour glass comes up after I double click the launch ircon on my desktop and then after about 4 - 5 seconds its gone and it closes itself.

"I double click the launch icon on my desktop and then after about 4 - 5 seconds its gone and it closes itself" is the response when I have the resolutions incompatible to the monitor. Sorry that wasn't the cause in your case.
The IL2 forum I hang out most is [url=]http://www.warbirdsofprey.org/[/url]. It is not a squadron website, but a server website. They are very helpful when folks have problems. They might be able to help you.

Go here: http://mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=3768

(You will need to sign up and log in)

Download the dll files that are from the IL-2 4.08 patch.

Back up your original mg_snd.dll and mg_snd_sse.dll files (in your main IL-2 directory).

Copy the mg_snd.dll and mg_snd_sse.dll files you just downloaded into your main IL-2 directory.

Play the game. :D

It worked for me just now -- I hope it works for you!

The explanation I found online is that older sound cards don't seem to like the new sound dll files. Using the older dll's seems to work. I don't know why this information isn't found more easily out there, or why it hasn't been posted here until now.

Good luck, clear skies, and good hunting!

-- rkt.

I had the same problem starting up in XP. The 4.08 patch .dll files fixed the problem. Thanks roadkilltoad!

No worries, glad to help! :)