DirectX problems

[dbl_0527]

I recently downloaded DirectX 8.0a from Microsoft. Being a newbie to gaming and high performance video, I wanted to see if I would see a difference in some games (they're a year or two old). Well, I did- they won't work. I had to uninstall Tiger Woods 2001 (EA sports) and reinstall b/c it would kick me back out to Windows when I went in to set program options (audio and video preferences). That actuall works now. But I also play NASCAR 3 from Sierra and I can get in the program but when I actually go to race, it kicks me back out to Windows. I have uninstalled and reinstalled to no avail.

I tried installing DirectX 7 from one of the game CD's but it wouldn't let me b/c it detected a newer version. I've reinstalled 8.0a to no avail. I don't see where I can uninstall 8.0a (or any DirectX) in my Add/Remove programs. How can I totally get rid of it? If I can do that I can reinstall one of the games and it will install DirectX 7 and I'll be back to normal. Before I get any hardware related suggestions, this only started happening when I installed 8.0a so I assume that DirectX is the problem.

System specs:
Celeron 733
128 PC100 RAM
ATI XPERT 98 PCI 8MB video card

[Makaveli]

Hmm, Im stuck on this one.. Normally a DirectX update is suppose to improve the games. Any thoughts guys?

Makaveli

[NDC]

I've had a very similar case with certain games after upgrading my DX7 to DX8 on Windows 98. Here something you can try:

* Try loading a different version for the video card driver...

If the above method doesn't work, go here (http://www.directxbuster.de/index_e.html) and download "DirectX Buster" and you'll be able to uninstall DX8. It's works perfect for Win98. As for Windows 2000, I've never tried it.


[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 08-07-2001).]

[Makaveli]

Can you even install DirectX 8 on Windows 2000? I didn't think it let you. I had 2000, but switched to ME because nothing of mine worked in 2000, including my DVD, Camera, and some games...

[NDC]

Yes, you can install DX8 on Windows 2000. Win2k installs DX7 when you first install Win2k. I have DX8 running on all my Windows 2000 systems.


Were you not able to install DX8 on Win2k? If so, what was the error message?

[Double L]

You should be able to "restore" your previous version of direct-X - I wouldn't give up on doing that.

But I'm not sure how to tell you to do that exactly -

go to "sys-tools", and then "system configuration", and then "direct-X diagnostics" - hopefully from there you can either fix the problem with your version 8 or restore your version 7.

[NDC]

As far as I know, there is no restore utility or option officially released from Microsoft when upgrading from DX7 to DX8 according to Microsoft the last time I checked. The link I provided for you above will be the key to restoring DX7. I used that for my kid's system when Roller Coaster Tycoon would run with DX8 after installing the expansion pack...

[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 08-08-2001).]

[dbl_0527]

Ok, I did the DX buster and the reinstalled DX7. However, my games won't work now. It says can't find dinput.dll. I restored my registry (ds buster created a backup prior to removing directx), and am now running dx8. However, I did change one option in the graphics prefs of the racing game to "software rasterizer" (i think), instead of 3D. The other option was something about glide. After I did that, the game did work properly.

any idea on that dinput.dll missing file after i removed dirext x with dx buster? i know it's looking for a file that of course isn't there, but shouldn't the dx7 install appropriately install the file?

[Double L]

You're running it without your Graphics Accelerator.

Have you tried updating your NVIDIA drivers?

[Makaveli]

My error message that was given to me for DirectX 8 and Windows 2000 was that DirectX 8 was not compatble for Windows 2000... lol

[NDC]

You must've downloaded a version for Win9x...


DirectX 8 Version 8.0a For Windows 2000 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=27742)

[dbl_0527]

Double L, what do you mean when you say update your "nvidia" drivers? The card I'm using is an ATI Xpert? I haven't tried updating those, but I'll do that tonight. The game can get a little choppy at times without the accelerator.

[NDC]

No, ATI doesn't use Nvidia drivers. Nvidia drivers are for Nvidia video cards such as TNT2, Geforce, Geforce 2, Geforce 2 MC, etc... You will need to go to the ATI site and download the specific driver for your video card...

[Double L]

Whoops!

My bad, I thought you had a Nvidia GPU.