First of: DOS or Windows version?
If windows version: Have you tried comp modes yet and setting res to 640x400 (or was it 640x480?) with the red-alert config tool? I even had to do so in Win Me for the windows version, otherwise black screen as well.
If it's the dos version: Sorry, can't help you there 🙁

This is DOSBOX only forum. Discussions of Windows version belong elsewhere.
The same applies for any problems with running the game natively (without DOSBOX).

Mirek

Red Alert offers both a Win95 Setup and a DOS Setup. The Windows Setup failed (yes, I have tried comp mode), so I used DOSBox 0.61 to install it to C:\Games\Dosgames\CC. No Problem so far. In DOSBox, I mount my CDROM drive with 'mount e e:\ -t cdrom' and my HD with 'mount c c:\' When I try to execute ra.exe in \games\dosgames\cc, that DOS/4GW stuff appears and the screen turns black after a few seconds.
What is wrong ? 😕

Juggler

Try adding -ioctl when mounting CD. IOCTL has better compatibility than standard SDL mounting.
I do not have the game, so I do not know whether this helps.or not

Mirek

-ioctl has no effect 🙁

Although this is the dosbox-thread, I still think that might help you (if no one else knows a way how to get it working under dosbox):
I had the exact same problem when trying to install the windows version (and with comp mode) under xp, and I found two helpfull tips:
1. install it on a 9x pc and copy the files to your xp machine, that normally works
2. you can try out the Red Alert Installer available on the net - it deactivates lan-game, though. I won't link it here, cause thes only side I know where to get it also offers warez. 🙁 The installer itself is legal, though (it just fixes the nstall prob, you still need the cds). So you'd have to search for it by yourself.