DirectX Troubleshooting

Reader Question:
“Hi Wally, I am having problems with DirectX and wondering how to fix it?“ - Brenda A., New Zealand

Before addressing any computer issue, I always recommend scanning and repairing any underlying problems affecting your PC health and performance:

Step 1 : Download PC Repair & Optimizer Tool (WinThruster for Win 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP and 2000 – Microsoft Gold Certified).
Step 2 : Click “Start Scan” to find Windows registry issues that could be causing PC problems.
Step 3 : Click “Repair All” to fix all issues.

Setting up weekly (or daily) automatic scans will help prevent system problems and keep your PC running fast and trouble-free.

Wally’s Answer:

Overview of DirectX

Microsoft DirectX is a collection of Application Programming Interfaces (API) for handling tasks that are related to multimedia programs, especially gaming.

PC users worldwide have DirectX installed in their computers whether or not they are aware of it. DirectX is very essential for the graphics capabilities of modern PCs, with Windows 8 now requiring DirectX for its common purposes like Aero and the new Start button.

Microsoft launched released DirectX to be compatible with every version of Windows since the early Windows 95. DirectX is not provided with Windows by default, so users must download and install the software on their own. The latest version of DirectX is 11.1, which was developed and published on the 29th of February 2012 for the latest edition of Windows (Windows 8 Consumer Preview).

DirectX is used by most modern games that require advanced graphics support (versions such as Direct3D), making this software package vital to gamers. DirectX allows the software to take advantage of the support provided by the graphics accelerator hardware (graphics cards). Thus, it enhances the hardcore gaming ability of PCs. Also, it is through DirectX that Windows has enabled the sleek Aero function that enables transparency of the Windows taskbar.

What Problems are Associated with DirectX?

The most common problems associated with DirectX are losing video or sound during gameplay. In addition, DirectX can be very annoying as it can cause error messages and system crashes.

Errors are quite common, including DLL file errors such as “d3dx9.dll is missing”, where installing DirectX Web Setup can solve this particular error.

To identify and fix other errors caused by DirectX, Windows provides software called DirectX Diagnostics Tool that is very useful. It can also prevent these errors from causing lockups or hangs.

Installing an older version of DirectX that what the software requires can also cause some strange system behavior. In some games that use advanced 3D graphics capabilities, game characters can appear like “dolls” if you are not using the latest version of DirectX recommended by the software publisher.

Most games do not work without a newer version of DirectX, which is usually why the game’s installation software includes a version of DirectX compatible with the game.

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Is Your PC Healthy?

I always recommend to my readers to regularly use a trusted registry cleaner and optimizer such as WinThruster or CCleaner. Many problems that you encounter can be attributed to a corrupt and bloated registry.

Happy Computing!

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About the Author

Wally PhillipsWindows Wally is a helpful guy. It’s just in his nature. It’s why he started a blog in the first place. He heard over and over how hard it was to find simple, plain-English solutions to Windows troubleshooting problems on the Internet. Enter: Windows Wally. Ask away, and he will answer.