When I first tried to start the game I got the Exception Access error so as the forum suggests; I removed the 4 .avi files from the Intro folder ... The game started and I went to the preferences *options* screen and seemed to be running alright but when I click the start button I get a black screen and then the ERROR exception access violation again and game will stop. All that is left in that intro folder are the .smk files which according to online search are condensed smack video files ... Is this a codec problem? What can I do to configure the codecs if need be or what can I do to play this game?
I got the game Running by removing the avi files but can't get the game to actually *START* and play. ???

EDITED ....
After uninstalling and reinstalling the k-lite codec pack as suggested in another post as well as changing the DEP settings the game is working * with the avi files STILL in the intro folder so the movies play as well *... See the other EXCEPTION access violation POSTS for these fixes ... Game is running in Windows 7 on a Walmart emachine with an integrated Intel-41 graphics chip and NO dedicated discrete video card.

Yup, my problems are exactly the same as yours, I've been trying for ages to get it working, even tried it on 2 different computers, I'm clueless.

Exactly the same problem here.

At first, sorry for my bad English.

And yeah, I am facing the same problem. Just in case, these are my notebook configurations:
Processor: Intel Core i3 2310M (Sandy Bridge 2nd edition);
Memory: 2gb DDR3
Windows 7 64 bits.

I have the original multi-CD version of this game, and played it several years ago, under Windows 98.
I played it only once, so I never tried to run it under WinXP or Windows 7, but I read many reports telling that this game was not compatible with XP or W7.
But now, with Gog staff saying that this game IS COMPATIBLE with Windows 7, I decided to buy it again, thinking that the compatibility issue was solved... But unfortunately, I see that it is not the case - at least, not entirely: I CAN see the intro movies "ingame", and I CAN see the main menu, and I CAN see the looping 3D word on the upper right corner after clicking "play", but the screen turns black and the game never starts.
About the Exception Access message, I saw it once, but didn't see it again (maybe it vanishes before I notice it, but that is not relevant, the fact is that the game begins and go until the "menu" point, and freezes.
Anyway, I am waiting for a solution, because I'm not interested in refunds or whatsoever.
What about it, Gog staff????
(Again, sorry for my bad English)

Hah! Try the crapple version which ONLY worked on a teeny tiny sub set of icrapple devices, and certainly not the one that I owned! i.e. the original publisher put some sort weirdo arcane DRM on the crapple version of the game which made it generally unuseable excepting for one VERY specific toilet seat ibook.

Back in the day I had some hopes that I could work around it it, but the dimwits made it so difficult to do so that it just wasn't worth the time to bother with it, so now I've bought this game yet again just to see if the original $ that I WASTED was worth it.

(This game is a poster child for anti-DRM...)

I converted the .avi's to xvid avi & now it works fine..

Download avs video converter. Chuck the .avis into that. Click convert to avi. Put them back in the silver folder. Job done ;)

I converted the videos to xvid. I now have sound but no pictures. Any ideas?

I have sharks codec pack installed. You could try installing that..

http://shark007.net/