So I can play for 5-10 minutes, then my computer just quits. Powers off. No orderly shutdown, warning, nothing in the event log, it just goes dead.

I've read some other threads about tweaking the compatibility settings to Win 98/ME, etc., and they didn't help.

My current solution in progress: install my old copy of XP Pro in VirtualBox and try running KoDP from there... hahahah, feels like using a sledgehammer to swat a fly, but, hopefully at least now it won't bring down my whole system.

Well, it still does the same thing in the VM. I've tried turning off sound and USB ports in the VM, too. My next step: try it on a different computer entirely (my old laptop with win 7), going under the assumption that my desktop computer simply hates this game and refuses to let me to play it. Ha.

Assuming that it's roughly the same as Win 7 and you've also checked the various "disable..." options in the compatibility tab, have you also set the system to run at "High Performance" (or some equivalent) under power options? Likewise, have you shut down any other programs and utilities that are running? As discussed in this thread further down the forum ( http://www.gog.com/forum/king_of_dragon_pass/cannot_get_it_working_windows_7_64bit ), various 'helpful' things sometimes aren't when it comes to game compatibility, and on some of the other game forums, Chrome has been flagged as a troublemaker if it's running in the background.

Garran: Yeah. I suspect it's some process on my computer that just doesn't get along. I use it for web development, too, so there's all kinds of crap installed.

Good news is: KoDP runs like a charm on my older laptop (Win7 64 bit) so I am able to play it. :)