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About DirectX®

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 that will run in Microsoft's Windows operating systems.

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.

Sometimes certain hardware (video cards and sound cards, for example) will not be completely compatible with DirectX, and this will cause games to crash (stop working correctly). While eGames cannot support your computer's hardware and its compatibility with DirectX, we can point you in the right direction.

You will need to navigate through the DirectX Diagnostic Tool under the following conditions:

1. You want to check what version of DirectX you have.
2. Game crashes with an illegal error (or Blue Screen of Death).
3. Game crashes with an error involving a D3D.dll Ddraw.dll or anything that sounds suspiciously like D-something.dll
4. Game will simply not run on the computer or can't initialize 3D.

The first thing you should do is make sure you have DirectX properly installed. You can try to reinstall DirectX by highlighting on the “DirectX” menu above, and clicking on the “Install DirectX” button. After it is finished installing, try running the game again.

If that does not work, try these simple steps to determine your computer's level of compatibility with DirectX.

1. Double click on your My Computer icon.
2. Double click on your C:\ drive, then the Program Files folder, then the DirectX folder and then the Setup folder.
3. Double click on the Dxdiag icon.
4. This brings up the "DirectX Diagnostic Tool". This tool will provide you with information about how your computer interacts with DirectX. Click the "Help" button for complete instructions on how to use this tool. There is even a section on how to report problems directly to Microsoft.
5. The first page will display information about DirectX, as well as information about your computer system. Click the "Next Page" button to begin the tests.
6. The next page is called "DirectX Files". If there are any files associated with DirectX that are not functioning correctly, they will be listed in the "Notes" field at the bottom.
7. Click "Next Page" again to view the files for "DX Media Files" and "DirectX Drivers". Please note any errors reported in the "Notes" field.
8. Click "Next Page" again. On the Display page, you will find 2 buttons for "Test DirectDraw" and "Test Direct3D". Click each of these buttons and perform the tests as instructed.
9. 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.
10. Keep clicking "Next Page" until you have performed all the tests and viewed all the messages. By now you may have been given some sort of error message or seen a note about files being "uncertified". You should click on the "Save all Information" button and save all this information to a text file.

If you received any error messages, then that means you are having compatibility problems with DirectX on your PC. You should contact the manufacturer of the conflicting device for further assistance. Or if you are unsure of what piece of hardware is the problem, contact your PC manufacturer.

You can also visit Microsoft's online support page by clicking here. This is an excellent resource for troubleshooting DirectX related problems. Just click on the DirectX Support Resources link for a complete online DirectX help resource guide and answers to all your DirectX questions by the creators of DirectX.