I installed Civ4 for the first time an hour ago, and I started it up and it came up with an error message saying:
"
The dynamic link library D3DX9_26.dll could not be found in the specified path C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4;.;C:\WINNT\system32;C:\WINNT\system;C:\WINNT;C:\ WINNT\system32;C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\Quick Time\QTSystem\;;C:\PROGRA~1\ATITEC~1\ATICON~1.
"
What does that mean?? I reinstalled the game, and it came up with the same message. Please help me! If it helps, I have the 'Special Edition'.

Make sure you install DirectX during the install - even if you already have it installed on your PC. This is a non-standard directx file, so you must install directx from teh CD.

You can try a manual install by browsing the install CD for the "DIrectX9" folder, then running DXSetup.exe.

Note - once you've installed directx you must reboot before trying to run the game. :)

This is a problem when D3DX9_26.dll is not where it is supposed to be.
If you go here C:\windows\SYSTEM32 and that file isn't there, that's why this is happening.

Did you install the latest version of DirectX (completely)?

Also, moved to tech support.

Thanks, reinstalling now.

Make sure you install DirectX during the install - even if you already have it installed on your PC. This is a non-standard directx file, so you must install directx from teh CD.

You can try a manual install by browsing the install CD for the "DIrectX9" folder, then running DXSetup.exe.

Note - once you've installed directx you must reboot before trying to run the game. :)

I get "A cabinet File Necessary for Installation Cannot be trusted" message when i try to run the DXSetup.exe from the DIrectX9 folder as well. Then it says intallation failed, and I get an exit message for the DX9 thing. I'm VERY PO'ed about this.

I just finished installing it *again* and it will load properly, but it will quit right after it goes to the 'loading' popup

it will load properly, but it will quit right after it goes to the 'loading' popupMine does almost the exact same thing. (Win2k, Athlon 1.5ghz, 128mb Nvidia 500, 512mb RAM)

I start the game, the load screen goes up, the CD starts to spin...then the HDD light goes out and the keyboard+mouse freeze and the CD continues to spin, for at least an hour :-/

I'll try un-/re-installing when I get home in 3 hours :rolleyes:

Mine does almost the exact same thing. (Win2k, Athlon 1.5ghz, 128mb Nvidia 500, 512mb RAM)

I start the game, the load screen goes up, the CD starts to spin...then the HDD light goes out and the keyboard+mouse freeze and the CD continues to spin, for at least an hour :-/

I'll try un-/re-installing when I get home in 3 hours :rolleyes:
As a random suggestion, do you have zonealarm? If so, try turning it off and see if it loads.

I'm having the same problem. I can't install the DX 9.0 that came with the game. I tried the standard installation method as well as a manual install and each time the load screen pops up but no progress is made after 15-20 minutes.

has anyone with the D3DX9_26.DLL error resolved the issue?

The render error fix (http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/support_ati.htm) specifically says to go delete the file c:\windows\system32\d3dx9_26.dll.

In that spirit, try this:

Uninstall Civ4
Delete the Civ4 folder
Delete c:\windows\system32\d3dx9_26.dll (if its there)
Reboot
Start installer
Accept all defaults

http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?d3dx9_26

Go here, get the file, and place it in your system32 folder as above. Install normally, play.