The game does not even install properly

[tmoj2000]

Ran the install twice (windows vista)... The game wont launch (get a mesage that autorun can't find some folder

Given that I bought two games on the same day from Matrix and that both do not work (the other one is WWI time of wrath which CTDs in 1941) I am not impressed.

[PrinzHenrich]

Check your Vista drivers!
(Vista socks[:@])

[sullafelix]

Are you using " Run as administrator " on the install or just clicking on setup? I know with my vista machine any new install I have to run as administrator or the install just dies.

[jackx]

Runs fine on my vista (32) laptop, and installed without any problems, too.
I have UAC turned off, which takes care of the admin privilege problem - before I did that (and I know this isn't an option for everyone), I had to do the same as sulla05 - run at least the install as administrator, or it wouldn't work.

[TR]

I didn't turn of the UAC.

I recommend you reinstall it again, but change the default file path, which reads "c:\Program Files\Matrix..." by deleting the phrase "Program Files." The corrected path should read "c:\Matrix\HorseandMusket ..."

I do this for every program I install and I have no problem.

[jackx]

As I said, no need to turn off UAC, but if it's on, you should make sure you run the installer (and maybe the game as well) as administrator. 

[milkweg]

When installing games on Vista *always* run the install as admin and never install to programs(x86) folder as it is a protected folder. Many games break security conventions and you never know which do and which don't (unless they say 'Games For Windows' on the box cover). At least half my games I need to run as admin too so just set all to run as admin in the compatibility tab because you never know which need it to run and which don't. Games are the worst offenders for breaking security conventions and the programmers need to get with the program because forcing anything to run with admin level access just goes against the whole idea of PC security and what Microsoft was trying to achieve with Vista in the first place. Vista is not the crap program that many make it out to be, the problem is the software we install on Vista because much of it does not follow good security rules so causes the kind of issues like the OP had. All those games you see with 'Games For Windows' on the cover are not just an advertising slogan, all of those games have followed Vista security conventions and are certified to run on Vista/Vista64 without having to use admin level access.