I'd been having the crash-on-startup bug that other Windows 7 users had reported. Didn't work with *either* graphics driver.
I was reading through Larian's 'crash on startup' thread, and they had one suggestion, specifically for Windows 7:
Start the program directly from the executable (bg3_dx11.exe), set to run as Admin.
Then here's the key: *hold the shift key while starting the program, and continue holding shift key until first game screen is displayed*.
This works for me, repeatedly, and I am now able to proceed!!
Just thought I'd pass this along in case others were still having this issue.