I really wanted to be able to tell all my friends how awesome this game was when it came out but that's just not happening.

Having same problem.  Not running ATI, I did however install the game to my G: drive as I have no space on C:.  Trying an install on my backup system.

Thanks for this, Telaeus.  Its not a 100% fix for me, but it does help a LOT.  For me, I just flipped my whole program data file from hidden to not hidden (probably not the best idea, but I'm the only one who uses my laptop), and I managed to launch elemental on the first try both after spending about an hour playing starcraft 2, and after watching some videos online, both situations that would have taken a dozen or more tries in the past.  Still get the black screen if I launch elemental, exit it, and then try to launch it again a minute or so afterwards, but this makes life much more pleasant.

Tried this, successfully started elemental 3 times in a row back to back, never even been able to get 2 before.  For anyone else looking for it, that line is in the prefs file in documents/my games/elemental on Vista.

Mine seemed to have been all not hidden in the first place; flipped them into hidden and back, still all black

Notice though new update available, hoping on that

What is even stranger that it did manage to start overall 3x (of about 60+ tries). But when I stopped and tried aganin next time black screen again. Alos no difference I could detect ( tried with and without having the screens data folder deleted) 

I noticed that all with this problem have GeForce 8800 GT/GTS. Same problem same card for me aswell.

Yes, all guys with this problem have 8800GT/GTS or 9800GT (same card with different name). No ATI traytools, just the basic Nvidia stuff

We would happily play the campaign at this beatiful weekend with 1.0 if there was not a forced incompatibility for the pre-1.06 saves.

My wife's pc has geforce gts 250 with the same issue.

Impulse patches the game directly and is the only legitimate way to obtain the updates... so if you're having some issue from "patching in the wrong order", then that tells me you've got a "special" version of the game. In which case we're not the ones who should be ashamed. If you're going to steal from us, at least have the decency to not waste our time when we've got paying customers to help.

Well technically isn't the issue caused by patching directly and NOT patching in order'?  That is how I read this at least.  Why are so many users seeing this?  I suspect that they purchased the game (disc) and update via impulse to the 'latest', which then causes blank screen as it skipped the previous two updates (yes, I know patches are supposed to be accumulative, but if this is proving to solve the problem then surely something is wrong with the single update).  Surely then the fault is still with the single direct updates?  It seems obtaining the patches from illegitimate sources, if that is what is being done, is the only way to solve a bug at this time based on the feedback on here.

Not condoning illegal ownership by any means, but I was shocked to see Stardock employees attack users on their boards, especially when it appears to defend a fault impacting many others.  I want to purchase the game with box etc, and not direct download. If I can't then upgrade to 1.06 without issue I guess I have to wait a little longer still.  Can someone confirm my thought here; are those with blank screens using Impulse to get 1.06 (or .05) directly after installing from the DVD? If not then perhaps everyone with the blank screens are using "special" copies (and I should not expect many replies ) and I'm good to go with purchasing it now, otherwise I'll wait on the coming patch(s).

Big SD fan, have been since picking up Sins, and have 100% confidence issues will be resolved with this game which I have eagerly awaited. However I am glad I didn't rush into immediate purchase.