I have SH3 working with Windows 7 x64...
I've spent several hours trying to get SH3 to work under Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate - build 7100). I'm not sure which version of the DVD I have; I bought it in June 2006 in the UK. It has the serial number on the disk, rather than the back of the manual, but installation hasn't asked for it.
I have been getting a getting a crash in msvcr71.dll right after the red progress bar completed and before the main menu.
I have tried both updating and removing the starforce drivers, but the programs tell me no SF drivers are installed.
Anyway this is what I did:
1) Install the game by running setup.exe on the DVD normally (not as admin). I installed into D:\Games\SilentHunterIII; not sure if that's significant. I told it to also install the 'Direct X 9 codecs', which previously I had not; also not sure if that was significant. I cancelled when it was time to install the ubisoft updater utility (I forget its name now).
2)
Install silent_hunter_3_dvd_1.4b_emea.exe as admin (right click > Run as Administrator). If you don't run as admin you will get the common complaint about de_menu.txt (and en_menu.txt) being an unknown version.
3) Install the No-CD patch. I saved the 5 files it replaced to a sub-folder of SH3, so I could restore in case I needed to.
4) Ran the game as admin. I have exited the game and I can also run it as 'me' (not admin) as well
5) Also: No need to use 'compatibility mode' on the shortcut or program properties - run it straight and not as admin.
I hope this helps some others with similar systems and problems!
Cheers,
Andy