Game just won't launch. It just throws me back to desktop with error message "Oddworld Abe's Oddysee has encountered a problem and needs to close".
I've tried everything: updating my ati-drivers, win95 and 98 modes(I have XP), reinstalling the game...
I'm running out of ideas what to do.
Sorry my bad english. I'm from Finland.

Having the same problem as well, running a Vista 32. I've tried compatibility, played around with resolution, etc., and it still isn't working. If anyone can get some help on this topic, it would be appreciated.

Hi, I had the same problem, the game crased after launch; I just tried run the game in the 640x480 mod (on compatibility screen -> Settings -> run in 640 x 480 screen resolution) and it worked. (I have win XP). Hope it will help.

I had problems running Abe's Exoddus but now it works!

Do this ddhack thing and I hope it works for you too!
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1765599
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/oddworld_series/ddhack_fixes_my_graphics_issues

I'm really confused with this problem.....hadn't played this in ages, and want to finish.....started it up on my Win XP desktop, yesterday....worked great. Crashed a couple of times...no worries, seen that before, after Alt-Tabbing out, etc.

But, now, today, it no longer even starts! Crashes before the first screen, even. "has encountered an error, blah, blah". Tried ad nauseum......rebooted, repeated ad nauseum.

So, I'm just perplexed. Why would it work, and now won't work, no matter what? I'm guessing something must have changed in my system? Guess I could System Restore, if need be.

The one thing was, when I tried it today, Yahoo Messenger crashed, immediately followed by Abe. Wonder if it's tied somehow.

I did install old You Don't Know Jack, yesterday, and played some of that. That would be the only change to system, since Abe worked.

Help! I really want to finish this, then get to Munch's Oddysee.

Did System Restore to yesterday morning......no dice.

Saw the other post about DDHack, which I saw when Googling the problem.....donwloaded and installed the two files in my directory.....tried again, even worse.....freezing up before the black screen comes up. Have to Task Manager force close just to get it off my screen!

Guess I'm dead in the water until I get some pointers. I think I was on my way to getting done, returning back to Rupture Farms......at least getting closer. How could it go from working great to this, in one day?

Edit: My lord.....so stupid sometimes. Realized I didn't have the disk in the drive.....this wasn't a GOG game, but figured I could post here anyhow, as I have many GOG games:) Anyhow, seems odd that it crashes like that, without the disk, instead of just prompting for a disk. Otherwise, I would have known right off.