This document is intended to help you with problems that can occur with products that use Microsoft's DirectX. Please also try any available troubleshooting tips for the specific product you are having trouble with.
DirectX is basically a large set of hardware drivers that Microsoft put together in order to make programming games easier. The drivers included in DirectX all conform to certain standard. Programmers using the DirectX Advanced Programming Interface can basically write their games as if they were all running on exactly the same hardware. When you install a game that uses DirectX, the DirectX installation program will determine what type of hardware you are using, and install the drivers that are needed for your game to work on your system.
For a more detailed look at DirectX and how it works, check out Microsoft's "About DirectX" document at:
http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/aboutdx.asp
You can download the most current version of DirectX from Microsoft's web site at:
http://www.microsoft.com/directx/download.asp
I've installed the version of DirectX that was provided on the CD, but the game's graphics or sounds don't look right.
If you have installed DirectX version 3.0 or earlier, you should try upgrading to DirectX version 5.0. Most hardware will work properly with the drivers contained in version 5.0.
If you have DirectX 5.0 installed, and still have problems getting the game to run correctly, you will need to get updated drivers for your hardware from the manufacturer of the card that's giving you trouble. If you already know who made that card, search for that company on the Internet. Most hardware makers keep the latest drivers on their websites for download.
If you do not know who made your hardware, contact your computer company's technical support department, and ask them. They may be able to help you find the drivers you need. To learn more about updating drivers, including a list of major manufacturers, please check out our How to Update Your Drivers FAQ.
After I installed DirectX, I rebooted the computer as instructed, and now the graphics or sounds on my entire computer are all messed up!
This problem indicates that DirectX could not find a suitable driver for your video card. If the video display is so bad that you cannot see anything in Windows 95, you'll need to reboot your system in "Safe Mode" first. Then, uninstall the DirectX video driver to restore your system to its original configuration.
To uninstall DirectX version 3 or earlier, you will need to manually re-install your original video or sound card drivers from the installation disks, or obtain new drivers from your card manufacturer. You may wish to try installing DirectX 5.0 first to see if the newer version works better on your system.
To uninstall DirectX 5.0:
- Click on Start.
- Click on Settings.
- Click on Control Panel.
- Double click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
- Select DirectX Drivers.
- Click on Remove. You will see a screen showing you all of the installed DirectX components.
- Click on the button that will restore either your video or sound drivers, depending on which you are having problems with.
- Follow the instructions for completing the uninstall procedure, then reboot your system. Your original drivers should be restored.
Try playing the game without the DirectX drivers. You may already have drivers that are DirectX compliant. If the game will not run, or gives you an error message, you will need to get updated drivers for your hardware that conform to the DirectX standard. To learn more about updating drivers, including a list of major manufacturers, please check out our How to Update Your Drivers FAQ.
Where can I find updated drivers for my hardware?
Most computer and video card companies keep the latest versions of their hardware drivers on their web sites for download. If you do not have Internet access, you can usually request drivers by telephone. To learn more about updating drivers, including a list of major manufacturers, please check out our How to Update Your Drivers FAQ.
In order for most games to function properly, your hardware must be certified to work with Microsoft DirectX. DirectX is an application program interface for creating and managing graphic images and multimedia effects in applications such as games or active Web pages that will run in Microsoft's Windows 95/98 operating system.
DirectX is designed so that some functions can be performed on a graphics accelerator card, freeing up the microprocessor for other work. The video accelerator manufacturer provides a driver especially for DirectX.
DirectX consists of five components:
- DirectDraw, an interface that lets you define two-dimensional images, specify textures, and manage double buffers (a technique for changing images).
- Direct3D, an interface for creating three-dimensional images.
- DirectSound, an interface for integrating and coordinating sound with the images.
- DirectPlay, a plug-in for end users, is also used by developers to test their application.
- DirectInput, an interface for input from I/O devices (joysticks, gamepads, etc.)
You will need to navigate through the DirectX Diagnostic Tool under the following conditions:
- You want to check what version of DirectX you have.
- Game crashes with an illegal error (or Blue Screen of Death).
- Game crashes with an error involving a D3D.dll Ddraw.dll or anything that sounds suspiciously like D-something.dll
- Game will simply not run on the computer or can't initialize 3D.
To check the status of DirectX on your computer:
- Click on Start
- Highlight Find and click Files or Folders
- Where it says Named, type D-X-D-I-A-G (spell it out), and where it says Look In, make sure it points to your C: Drive, if not, use the drop-down arrow to select C: from the menu. Click Find Now. The Find function will now search through your computer for DxDiag. The magnifying glass will rotate and your hard drive will make noise until your entire hard drive has been searched through.
- When the search is complete, double click the icon that looks like a Yellow-X on a Blue Circle to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. If two are found, either one is okay to click on. If none are found, the customer needs to find and download the latest version of DirectX.
- Click on the Display tab. If there are two Display tabs, you will want to check both, however it will be the second one that matters. Check to make sure that the Approx. Total Memory is equal to or greater than the game's System Requirements. If not, see if you can return the game to the place of purchase for a game of equal or lesser value. Otherwise, the hardware must be upgraded to play the game.
If your memory does meet the minimum requirements, then make that your drivers are certified with DirectX. If not, you will need to upgrade to the latest driver from their card's manufacturer.
|
|