For quite some time I have had a problem with my Civilization 3. It began when I started uninstalling many games from my computer and then began to have second thoughts about some games, which I then reinstalled. One of these games was Civ 3, if you couldn't guess :-P. Now my problem is when I start to play the game the main menu looks like this: http://www.angelfire.com/empire2/jfelts/civ3_error.jpg (Main Menu Error)
Okay now I could live with that, it's a little screwy I will give you but still playable right...
So I click on Load Game to load up my save and I get an Illegal Operation that shuts down the game. Okay so I head off to Load Scenario, at least if I can't play the game I want maybe I can restart it...same problem.
WELL FINE! I will just have to settle on a different game so I go and start it up again and press New Game.
Well this time I am lucky and get to the normal screen where you get to choose what type of world you want. So I get my world all sorted out and I press the little circle and I promptly get an Illegal Operation.
So I decided to give it another try and go the Quick Start route.
Well this is what I get first: http://www.angelfire.com/empire2/jfelts/civ3error1quick.jpg (Quick Start Error)
then when I go to plant the Setteler down for a city I get this: http://www.angelfire.com/empire2/jfelts/civ3error2quick.jpg (Quick Start Error)

So do you know what this problem is? Can it be easily fixed?

hhhmm, do you have the REAL civ3 or a pirtated on? Maybe try unstalling and reinstalling?

Looks like you are still using v1.07f.. You should install the latest patch v1.29f. The patch can be downloaded here:

http://www.civfanatics.com/civ3patches.shtml

would disabling true-type font (or whatever it is in the preferences menu) help as well?

I have a real copy, bought it myself. Right from the Russian Bla.. err EB! Yes it is real.
Thank you for the mod but it still doesn't work.

I've also tried adjusting the font smoothing, that does not work either.