DirectX

The information below is a list of tips that we have compiled from our Technical Support Logs.

How do I install DirectX from the CD?

What version of DirectX am I running?

How can I check the health of DirectX on my computer?

Video Display Difficulties 

Specific Video Card Problems 

Sound Difficulties 

How do I install DirectX from the CD?

Use the Windows Desktop (or Explorer) to navigate to the Dxsetup.exe file:

• Open 'My Computer' (double-clicking).
• Open your CD-ROM drive.
• Open the REDIST folder.
• Open the DIRECTX folder.
• Scroll down and look the Dxsetup.exe (DxSetup) file.
• Run Dxsetup.exe.
• Choose 'Reinstall DirectX'. (Note: Do not just click 'OK')
• For any unrecognized drivers that are not recommended, choose 'Yes'.
• Choose 'Yes' to reboot your computer.

Follow-up questions:  Why did you 'bury' the installer? Why did you make installing DirectX so difficult?

This installation process was developed by Microsoft, not by Laureate Learning Systems.

What version of DirectX am I running?

How can I check the health of DirectX on my computer?

There are two handy utilities that you can use to check on the status of DirectX.  Inside the REDIST\DIRECTX folder there exists two diagnostic utilities for working with DirectX:  Dxtool.exe & Dxdiag.exe.

• Dxtool is handy for a quick overview of what is installed on your Windows machine. [Get Dxtool.exe here. (33K)]
• Dxdiag is a more thorough utility for checking on certification of DirectX drivers. [Get Dxdiag.exe here. (1.2MB)]

Laureate highly recommends using DirectX 6 or later.

Video Display Difficulties

Symptoms

After you run 'Dxsetup.exe,' you may experience some of the following conditions: 

· Your computer may stop responding (hang) during reboot, or it may boot into Safe Mode. 

· When you restart the computer, Windows 95 starts in 16 color VGA mode. 

· When you restart the computer, the Windows 95 logo appears and then the screen goes blank. 

· After the computer reboots, you have a black screen or strange horizontal lines running across your display. The system stops responding (hangs) and does not respond to your mouse or keyboard. 

Causes

These conditions can occur if: 

· Your video card driver is not DirectX compatible. 

-or- 

· Your video resolution was set to 1024x768 High Color (16 bit) before running 'Dxsetup.exe.' 

Resolutions

Restoring your original video driver 

To resolve the problem, follow the directions below. If you can start Windows, skip to Step 2. 

1. Boot Windows 95 into Safe Mode. 

· Restart the computer. 

· When 'Starting Windows 95' appears on the screen, press the F5 key. 

2. Switch the display adapter to your original display driver.

· Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 

· Double-click Display. 

· Click the Settings tab. 

· Click the Change Display Type. 

· Click Change to change the Adapter Type. 

· Select Show All Devices. 

· Select the manufacturer of your video card. 

Note: If you are unsure of what video card you have, contact your hardware vendor. 

· From the list of models, select the appropriate driver. 

· Click OK twice, and click Yes to restart Windows. 

3. Obtain the latest DirectX-compatible video driver for your card.

Specific Video Card Problems

Diamond Stealth 3D 2000 Video Card

1. In the DirectX folder in the Redist folder on the CD-ROM, double-click Dxsetup.exe.

2. In the DirectX Setup window, remove the check mark from the Direct 3D Hardware Acceleration check box and click "Ok."

3. If problems still occur, change Graphics Acceleration to Basic.

· Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 

· Double-click the System icon. 

· On the Performance tab, click Graphics. 

· Move the Acceleration slider to one notch above None. 

· Click OK, then click Close. 

Cirrus Logic Display Cards

The Cirrus Logic cards may end up showing incorrect colors after DirectX is installed. Follow the steps at the beginning of this guide to restore your original display drivers and contact your hardware vendor for DirectX compatible drivers.

Sound Difficulties

Symptoms

After you run 'Dxsetup,' you may experience some of the following difficulties:

· Sounds may come out "scratchy" or erratic. 

· Sounds stop and may not restart until computer is rebooted. 

· You receive an 'Error initializing DirectSound' message. 

Causes

These difficulties can occur if:

· Your multimedia control panel settings are incorrect. 

-or- 

· You have multiple copies of DirectX installed. 

-or- 

· Your sound card drivers are not DirectX compatible. 

Resolutions

If your multimedia control panel settings are incorrect...

Check the Preferred Playback Device setting in the Control Panel:

1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 

2. Double-click the Multimedia icon. 

3. In the Playback section of the Audio tab, make sure the Preferred Device setting is Game Compatible. 

4. Also make sure the Use Preferred Devices Only box contains a check mark. 

To check for multiple versions of DirectX...

1. From the Redist folder located on the CD-ROM, double-click the file Dxsetup.exe. 

2. Click Restore Windows 95 drivers. 

3. Make sure you are using the most recent version of your sound card driver. Removing and re-detecting the sound card may be necessary. 

4. Run the Dxsetup.exe file again to reinstall DirectX. 

If your sound card drivers are not DirectX compatible...

1. Switch the sound card driver to its original driver. To update the sound card driver, you need to disable the current driver, and then install a new or updated driver.

To change the driver, follow these steps:

· In Control Panel, double-click System. 

· Click the Device Manager tab. 

· Double-click the Sound, Video, And Game Controllers branch to expand it. 

· Click your soundcard to highlight it. 

· Click the Remove button at the bottom. 

· Click Yes to remove the driver. 

· Restart your computer. 

· Follow the directions when your computer auto-detects the soundcard (have the driver disks for your sound card handy or your Win 95 CD/disks). 

If Windows does not auto-detect your sound card, go to the Control Panel.

· Double-click Add Hardware. 

· Click Next. 

· Click No to having Windows detect the hardware. 

· Highlight Sound, Video and Game Controllers and click Next. 

· Select the manufacturer of your sound card. 

· Highlight the appropriate driver for this card. 

· Click Next and follow remaining directions. 

2. Contact your sound card's manufacturer for the latest DirectX compatible driver.

Running DirectX under Windows XP