Here's what worked for me.
1. Find the game install folder. For First Decade, it should be something like:
C:\Program Files\EA Games\Command & Conquer The First Decade\Command & Conquer Red Alert
2. Search for string *.exe
3. For every .exe file found in the folder, individually -
a. Right click and select properties
b. On the Compatibility tab -
i. Set for Windows 98 / ME
ii. Select Run as administrator
After I did this for every .exe file in the folder, the game seems substantially more stable