Heroes 3 issues under XP or Vista.

HELP!!! How do I install and run Heroes 3 Platinum 4.0 under Vista? My new laptop won't run the game; what compatibility settings should I use? I've tried setting compatibility to XP, but it doesn't help. I've tried changing the compatibility to XP and other settings. All I've managed to do is make the screen go dark, like during a normal Heroes loading sequence, and then it pops up in a window with an error message, suggesting I search for a solution online, and that's it! I've tried patching it and running it without patching, but it doesn't work. I'm going to try installing The Shadow of Death and In the Wake of Gods.