DirectX 9

[Wolfe Tone]

I'm trying to install Rise of Nations at the moment. It says that DirectX 9 is required, but it won't install it. It says that it is incompatible with my version of windows (I'm using XP.) Anyone any ideas what's wrong. When I start up RoN I can get through all the menus but when I get to the main map it really slows down and there is a lot of black patches. In fact I'm having a lot of problems getting some games working. Nearly all the first person shooters I try become extremely slow. My graphics card is a GeForce 2 64MB card and I have the latest drivers for it. I realise that the graphics card isn't all that good but it used to run some of the games on my old machine. I have tried different FPS's and even fairly old ones like Rogue Spear aren't working. However a few games are working like Tropico and RA2. Does anyone know how I can fix all of the above problem (it seems like I'm using this forum looking for help far to often )

 

[CornMaster]

It could be installing the 98/ME directX instead of XP.

http://www.microsoft.com/directx/ and install the XP yourself. Should work then.

 

[Wolfe Tone]

I'll keep that in mind but direct x is quite a big file and it would take too long on my crappy internet connection, any other suggestions.

 

[CornMaster]

You could check the directories on the CD for an XP version....but downloading is the best idea anyway....only took about an hour for me to download over dialup.

 

[Wolfe Tone]

Right I managed to get Directx 9 installed but now the opening video of Rise of Nations plays, but it will get no further. A message stating that the graphics haven't been initiallised ensure the card and drivers are installed, which they are. So RoN still doesn't work and the other games I mentioned are still running extremely choppy.

 

[CornMaster]

Try reinstalling your video drivers. Sounds like they are corrupted.

 

[Wolfe Tone]

I tried that, no go.

 

[ainwood]

Are they the latest drivers?

Also: Look here.

This site has more info.

 

[Wolfe Tone]

Originally posted by ainwood
Are they the latest drivers?

Also: Look here.

This site has more info.

Yep they are the latest drivers, no more than a week old. I've already seen most of the stuff in those links and it isn't really a help, thanks for trying. I still don't know why some of the other older games aren't working properly.

 

[ainwood]

Did you change (or set) any of the video options when you installed RON?

I had severe crashing problems with Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and tried all sorts with new drivers, changing directx versions, checking RAM, changing driver hardware acceleration, playing with command settings etc.

In the end, I reinstalled, and it was (virtually) magically fixed.

I figured that some autodetect settings on install got changed with the reinstall to reflect the system hardware / software changes.

Its a long shot, but if you have made changes to your system then it might be worth a try....

 

[nihilistic]

That shouldn't happen. But try getting Service Pack 1 and All the patches at the windowsupdate site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

If that doesn't work, back up your files and reinstall WinXP, SP1, patches, then try the xp version of DirectX again. And yes, that version is also availble at windowsupdate.