Try the compatibility mode option in Windows XP. If that doesn't work, try this, it works very well for me. Go to the Quake II CDROM, and then go into the Install folder and then copy the entire Data folder to the hard disk, and then pop the Q2 CD in the drive, and then double click the Quake2.exe file in the Data folder. The game will load and run perfectly without an error, as it did for me and my friends. You dont even need to install the game.
