Jep, same issue even with patch 1.03; and new install of directx. The error-info is:



System:
- Windows 7 Home Premium - 64bit (Service Pack 1), German
- AMD Processor FX-6300 Six-Core-Processor - 3.50 GHz, RAM: 8 GB
- GeForce 9500 GT, Nvidia-Driver-Version: 341.44, DirectX-Runtime-Version 11.0, (no Nvidia Experience installed), Resolution: 1920 x 1200
- DxDiag 6.01.7601.17514 64-Bit-Version (display, sound 1, sound 2, input - no problems)

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.150427-0707)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-3220 CPU @ 3.30GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.3GHz
Memory: 16384MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960

It seems to be related to gpu drivers. Uninstalling the nvidiadiver and installing the newest driver from microsoft, resulted in: the game started but runs very slow.
After Patch 1.03 and nvidiadriver 352.86 reinstall the game startet at first but crashed as soon as the loading circle was finished and the first picture of in game graphics appears.

(AMD8350,GTX970,Win8.1, 26GBRam)

Same problem. Here are my system specs:
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit-Version (6.1, Build 7601)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3450 CPU @ 3.10GHz (4CPUs), ~3.1GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
Card: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series

mmcowl

Yes, exactly described. Same problem!

OK, and I can not install the NVIDIA drivers 352.86 as I have 'only' a GeForce 9500 GT. But people, thus I play Rome 2 and Attila; although not in all its splendour, but anyway. So let's not hang me in The Witcher III! Thx.

System:
- Windows 7 Home Premium - 64bit (Service Pack 1), German
- AMD Processor FX-6300 Six-Core-Processor - 3.50 GHz, RAM: 8 GB
- GeForce 9500 GT, Nvidia-Driver-Version: 341.44, DirectX-Runtime-Version 11.0, (no Nvidia Experience installed), Resolution: 1920 x 1200
- DxDiag 6.01.7601.17514 64-Bit-Version (display, sound 1, sound 2, input - no problems)

For today if your video card do not supply DX11 you will not start it. To have DX11 installed or to have Video card that supply it - is not the same thing. So go to the vendor site check compability of card to DX11. If it hasn't you can start to think of buying new one.

thx Demo1986,

this may be true on my graphics card, but why have other players with a GTX970 or GTX960 the same error message?

I think the problem (Crash reason: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION) lies elsewhere.

I have the same crash on win 7 and win 10 (gtx660ti) but i started searching for info and find this. It's form java but it may be same fix for it www.java.com/en/download/help/exception_access.xml I'm learn programing and from my poor knowleage of subject it cose by game can't access some memory cell in ram. Sorry for the poor language.

Maybe the problem goes in that direction. I reduced my memory ram from 26Gb over 16Gb down to 8Gb and at 8GB the game did not crash complety (on the same poit as ever) instead froze and was marked "inactive" in taskmanager. Yet i had no way so set it "active" again to see what`s to happen.
(AMDFX8350,gxt970,win8.1,24GB)

I discovery some trick. My gtx 660ti is form asus and it's TOP version (www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/b447/asus-gtx-660-ti-directcu-ii-top.html) but when I downclock card from 1137 Mhz to 915 Mhz game now run 2h without crash. So if you have not reference clocks speed try to downclock card to reference clocks may be that helps. I so spred the good news.

Same crash message, but curiously game was able to launch on 19th. Next day - crashes, flash of black screen only. And continues to crash ...

Game was autopatched by GOG Galaxy, freshly installed GPU drivers, up to date Windows.

AMD Phenom II X4 B40, 8 GB DDR3 RAM, GPU ASUS Radeon R7 250X with 2GB DDR5 memory, ASrock M3A770DE MBoard.

Game installed on I: drive.

Will vive it a shot ans try withba dx11 base card

This! My game works when it works, which is to say that the Loading circle is my nemesis. It will load, and just as the game is about to drop me into the scene, complete seize up. I have 12 crash files, and every single one of them is this exception, though the Error reading location does sometimes change: Red Engine Crash Log
--------------------------------------
Build: Not Set [ Compiled May 20 2015 ]

Crash reason: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (3221225477), Error reading location 0x00000000

Crashed Thread:

Thread ID: 5304

OMG! patch 1.04 and problem still unsolved!!!