[Fallout 1] Crashing on Startup

[Xaxus]

So I've installed the game, the full 650~ MBs on Windows XP.
Immediately after starting the game, I get the old fashioned Indian-head "PLEASE STAND BY" for a split second then I am returned to my desktop. I do not receive any notification.
The only thing I did "out of the ordinary" was move the Fallout folder to a different location from where it was installed (without ever launching the game first). Upon activating the .exe in the new location, I was prompted to return it to the original install. I returned it all well and good, then I get this aforementioned crash on startup error. Running in compatibility mode in for 95 doesn't help, nor does running 98.

 

[Endocore]

You've got a big mess there , which is probably why no one else offered to help. When you moved the game directory the first time but didn't update the cfg file to reflect new working directories, presumably this is why you saw whatever you saw in the case of "I was prompted to return it to the original install."

My suggestions to get you going:

1) Delete all traces of the game you can find, wherever these may be. Don't bother "uninstalling" by other means, as this will likely only cause more confusion and isn't necessary in the case of Fallout or Fallout 2 (neither game requires access to the Windows Registry).
2) Make a folder somewhere other than your "Program Files" or "Documents/Settings" folder called something memorable (e.g. "Fallout" would be fine).
3) Make another try to install the game (humongous install) to the folder you made in step 2.

You should be fine after these steps; trying to figure out what happened the first time around likely won't be worth your effort.