my situation is exactly the same as in this message:
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/spellforce_platinum/cannot_start_game
except my netbook is only 1gb ram and windows xp, why won't the game work? back when I first got my computer, I found how to use resolution settings that weren't normally supported, and it got me past the issue if any game/program needed something else, like 1024x768 or 800x600.
that still doesn't help here, I've even tried downloading the config.lua and putting it into the "Gog.com/Spellforce - Platinum Edition" directory. although I don't know if I tried the right number after "ScreenResolution" for 1024x768 setting.

Does the game start if you change the ScreenResolution value to 1, which should be 800x600 ?

yes, the only thing i could determine is that 1 stood for 800x600, so I did try that but no dice.
is it possible I need to get all settings to "low" with the config.lua? its certainly possible my computer won't even start the game if its using medium or high settings. again, this is a downloaded config.lua, someone on the forum linked to theirs and my game didn't even come with one.
also, would it maybe need to be put in a different directory? I get the feeling the config.lua might not be doing anything..

Yes, it was me who posted that config.lua
You want to try lowering quality and 1024X768, right ? These are the settings to do that
VSync = 1,
FlatShades = 1,
EffectLightmap = 0,
EnvironmentMapping = 0,
AdornMode = 0,
ObjectFadeDistance = 75,
ShadowType = 0,
TextureQuality = 0,
Filtering = 0,
ScreenResolution = 2
Oh, the config.lua goes in the game directory, so you're placing it in the right place

thanks, i'll definitely have to give that a try. unfortunately, i got so frustrated with everything today that the game's now uninstalled and the setup in gone :/
but, Gog downloader is almost finished getting the files back, and i'll post the results ASAP. a little off subject, but the funny thing about this is that "forcing" my computer into a different resolution i think had solved all problems like this in the past, except for a game i just tried in demo version before looking into buying it.
coincidentally, it was also a JoWooD game and did something almost exactly the same, not starting up at all and giving a reason that had to do with the display (silent storm)
interesting turn of events, editing the config.lua still didn't help, i dont know why but for some reason i just tried leaving everything back to the way it was, no config.lua or anything.
i only changed one thing, adding the "-window" command to the shortcut, and it worked. I started a free game to make sure, and the game runs fine. but, if i try going to the options, either at the main menu or in-game, i get a new error that says something about resolution, and the game crashes.

Have you tried placing the config.lua in its place and then run the game (windowed) to see if that stops the crashes when you try to go to options ?

Are you running any background tasks such as the two mentioned in this post ?
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/spellforce_platinum/game_crashes_when_i_click_the_amp_039_options_amp_039_button/perm=17/#p_b_17

thanks again for the config.lua setup, it's a big help since i can't access the options. i've kept all the settings low (except for texture because i hate the characters looking so muddy) and performance is pretty good. can i make any settings even lower, like the fade distance, for even better performance?
Here's exactly what the error says if I try and hit the options:
G:\Spellforce\release\candidate\code\Ui\UiMenuOptions.cpp(1644): error: Assertment Failed!
Message: No Available Resolution Found
no idea where the "G:\" comes from, there's no such directory in my computer. I tried disabling the background tasks that I know of, and making sure the config.lua had a resolution setting in line with my own, and same result. ATI tray tool must be referring to the video card, something i definitely dont have, but bit defender does sound familiar. I dont think i have anything like that, though..
wow, dont know what happened there, the "& #92;" part of the error message i typed should not be there, just a backslash instead.

You're welcome.
Yes, you can decrease the value for ObjectFadeDistance. Maybe try 20 or 25 to see how it goes.
As for that error, i can't say what's going on. Since you're running it windowed you added something like
WindowWidth = 800,
WindowHeight = 600,
to the config.lua, right ?

well, i've just tried that now, it doesn't work but it also seems to have no effect at all on the size of the window.
Maybe I'm placing it in the config.lua wrong? i just hit backspace to erase whatever number is normally appears after "ScreenResolution" and thats where i paste the height/width. the text is sorta screwy in the config, i dont know if an extra space or something would cause it not to work.

I don't think an extra space would cause any problem and it looks like you're placing the height/width definitions in the right place anyway, so i really don't know what could be causing the issue.

alright, well thanks again for all the help. at least the game is running and i dont see any reason i really need to be able to use the option screen.

Hi, i have the same problem on Win 10 and can't find that config.lua file anywhere. Unfortunately that link in the first post is dead, was that file offered there?

i also have the same problem