I,ll Try to provide all information. So I updated to windows 7 and I am having some pesky problems with the game not being able to identify application version.

I installed the d2/LOD and then tried to patch through by logging into battle.net on the d2 game client and got a "patching archive is corrupt". So, I manually downloaded and installed the patch and I was able to log in. But, when I close LOD and then boot it up again and try to log in I get the same "unable to identify application version".

I tried reinstalling the game from scratch and patching manually(never trying to patch through diablo 2 battlenet). Same thing happens. I can log in once, but when I re-open the game I get the same "unable to identify application version". I Did this clean reinstall three times with the same problem.

I ran my virus scan and nothing is getting picked up. This is pretty close to a fresh install of windows so virus/malware/whatever is very unlikely.

Something somewhere in windows 7 is seemingly altering my game file after it opens once. That's my theory anyways. I can't figure out exactly what is happening though.

Never mind. I tried changing the game application file to run as admin/set to windows xp SP3 compatability and this didnt work. However, unchecking both of those and making a shortcut on the desktop and right clicking the short cut and running as admin did work. Seems odd to me but oh well. Problem solved.