I have all the latest official patches, and the latest baldurdash patches.

For some reason when i launch BG 2, the launcher comes up, and then when i click the play button, it starts to unload the launcher and proceeds to start loading the game.

But once it does that, the screen kind of flashes really quickly and then nothing happens. No game loaded or anything. it's not in the background either according to system resources and task manager.

I'm running win 98. anyone know what's wrong?

Your system specs please (cards). To quickly get that info, do this:
start->run->dxdiag

Few questions however:
- was it working ever before?
- any unofficial add-on (mod) installed except baldurdash?
- do you get any error message on the screen when the game kicks out?
- have you tried with game reinstallation already?

Intel Pentium II 400 MHZ
384 RAM
16.0 GB harddrive, 4 GB free
ATI 3D Rage Pro video card

- was it working ever before?
Yes, for about 3 months. no problems. ran through the game twice.

- any unofficial add-on (mod) installed except
baldurdash?
No

- do you get any error message on the screen when the game kicks out?
No. Just went back to desktop

- have you tried with game reinstallation already?
No, but it seems like i'm going to have to...

If the reinstalling doesn't help, please run BGconfig and set the game to run in window mode. If it does work like that, then you'll need to update graphic card driver.