I'm having trouble getting Settlers IV running in Windows 10 with compatibility set to Windows XP SP3. The first error message was about graphics incompatibility, so I thought I'd try adding the patches. I don't know if that solved the problem completely. I can't get past the launch request for the CD. I actually do have it, but I don't have a DVD drive on this laptop. I have seen some advising that files from the game CD can be copied into HD folders to solve the problem. I may resort to that method using someone else's computer with DVD drive to copy files to a memory stick, but I'm hoping there's a less complicated way to get this GOG download working. For all I know, the patches might not have been necessary, but have just created a new problem.

Thanks for any help.

You shouldn't download patches. GOG's games come patched already.

I know there were some problems running Settlers 3 and 4 on Windows 10. In fact, the game page metnions only XP, Vista and 7 compatibility.

As a last resort, support will give you a refund if you can't get the game to run, but maybe someone here will be able to get you fixed. What errors were you getting exactly?

Thanks, ZFR. I'm not having a problem with 3 or 2 anni. I am reinstalling without patches to see if I get better results by changing compatibility settings.

So far, what I get this time around is Fatal Error:Exception 0xc0000005 at 0x72024fd5. That's an addressing error, which is far worse than the original graphics compatibility error. I think I'll just stop while I am ahead, reboot and content myself with 2 anni. I found the map editor for that version, so I'm happy.

If you do want, contact support and see if they can offer any solution to Settlers IV. You won't lose anything either way. And if you do it now, you'll be within the 30 day refund policy if their help fails.

What graphics card(s) are installed on your PC? (Don't forget the one integrated on your CPU, as there may be one)

S4 is known not to work with NVIDIA... In this case "DxWnd" and "DxGL" provide working workarounds.

ZFR, I did find the following support links:
.../support/the_settlers_4_gold_edition/game_asks_for_cd
.../support/the_settlers_4_gold_edition/crashing_in_general

I expect that eventually I will get SIV running. I might end up running the patches and then trying the advice from the first link to see what happens.

Adrianer, my laptop has an AMD Radeon R5 graphics card. I didn't know SIV has issues with nVidia. Thanks for that info.

As already written here: this patches are only intended for the CD version. If you install one of these on top of the GOG version, the GOG version gets broken and you have to completely reinstall the GOG version.

With an Radeon S4 should work. Nonetheless, if it does not, then you could try DxWnd or DxGL, if the "incompatible graphics" error should appear again.

Edit: Do you have an INTEL CPU?

Adrianer, my laptop has an AMD A8-7410 APU.

I don't know if the patches break the GOG build. Do you know what build version GOG SIV is? I'm going to trouble shoot, following the suggestions in the first linked support page above. It actually states, "Susceptible games should all be patched against this kind of issue." The language is a bit ambiguous, but 'should' might not mean 'have been'. From what I've seen, I can get to the launch with patches. That means the graphics incompatibility problem is solved with patches. The support page suggests running with admin rights to get around the CD request, so I will try that.

Ok.

In the Radeon settings there should be an option somewhere to choose, if an application/game/exe should use the integrated or the dedicated graphics card (GPU). Try to pinpoint the S4_Main.exe to either the integrated or the dedicated one. I know that they do break. And I also know, that the GOG version corresponds to the 2.50.1516a CD version - which is the latest version. So not only is patching useless here - it also breaks the game. And you don't get around the CD request after patching - believe me.

Adrianer, I installed and configured DxGL. Now SIV opens in a small window (I think I can adjust size) and runs. However, the menu icons don't match up to the cursor location. It's an improvement. Thanks. :-)))

Update: I resolved the issue with the menu icons. Now the problem is not being able to drop buildings into the map. The dots and ghost building show up. Drag & drop with touch screen and touch pad aren't working so well. Placing building requires drag & drop in this version, right?

At any rate, I'm leagues ahead of where I was. DxGL did solve the graphics and bit step-down issues. I think I might have to use a mouse to resolve this latest problem.

Thanks for all your help. Cheers.