I've looked around the boards, but can't seem to find anyone who has a problem quite similar to this.

I have Windows 7, an nVidia 8800 GT graphics card, and a dual monitor set up.  I had a problem with the dual monitors and World of Goo but got that resolved.  I changed the properties file to be the same resolution as my primary monitor and that solved the problem with resolution being all over the place.

So now I've managed to get it started up and running, it does the first bit with a black loading screen with "loading..." at the bottom (as well as various other phrases like "sandbagging expectations"), then it switches to a screen that says "Window" has a little picture of what looks to be hills, then "Testing 1 2 3" at the bottom.  Shortly after reaching this screen it crashes 100% of the time.  I've tried this out in administrator mode, in compatibility mode, in windowed and full screen, and each time it behaves the exact same way.  Starts up, reaches the screen with "Window" at the top, then soon after crashes.

There's no fatal error message given, it gives a Windows default crash response box of "would you like to send microsoft a report?"

Any ideas on how to fix this?

wow, this is a unique problem, I haven'y head anything like this happening before.

Could you post crash log from World of Goo directory?

Could you tell us where you got your release from? It sounds like either your copy is messed up or that it's some sort of a developer build. Post some screenshots.

The crash log is as follows:

Post a screenshot if you can. Seeing it's the HIB version, it should be identical to the version downloaded from 2D Boy. Still, a screenshot would make it easier to identify where it loaded to.

(On a regular startup all the loading messages should fade, followed by a "2D Boy Presents" intro and then the main menu.)

Here's the first screen it shows:


Then the second:


Shortly after showing the second it crashes.

I have a feeling that somehow the game is redirected to a test level instead if the main menu. Tell me more: Are you using GooTool? If so, did you try to install a mod or make a custom level?

This was what I found: http://goofans.com/forum/world-of-goo/modding/1198
The reason the game crashes is because of either malformed level data (any of the various data files a level is involved with can't be parsed), or missing custom resources as defined in the level files.

No, I've yet to even play the game actually, I installed it, and immediately ran into the dual screen problem, which I resolved by going into windowed mode.  I also changed the config file so it started up at the proper resolution, and that solved it for full screen.  Besides that I've made no changes from the default installation file I got from the Humble Bundle.

You should zip up your current installation, upload it somewhere, and then PM the link to me so that I can study the files. (Don't post the link publicly; you don't want people stealing the game.) Next, uninstall WoG, delete everything in its program folder, and download a new copy, then reinstall. Reconfigure and try again.

(Alternative to my first request: you could send me a MD5 checksum list of all the files.)

I did a reinstall like you said, and it works now.  No idea what was wrong with it before, but as long as it works.