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How to make Win10 run DirectX 9.0

Anonymous
2015-11-23T10:56:06+00:00

3 days ago I moved my PC over from Win7 to Win10.  I used the "Install nothing" option as a way of cleaning up my hard disc.

I then installed my DVD version of Flight Simulator X.  During the install all I saw was a black screen which is most unusual (I normally see images of FSX aeroplanes).  When I tried to run FSX all I see is a black screen and a message saying FSX needs DirectX 9.

I have checked DxDiag and see I have v11.2.  I have downloaded Dx9 from the MS website but when I try to install Dx9 I see a message saying Dx9 will only run with Windows XP to 8.1.

Is there any way to enable FSX (and similar programmes which require DX9 ) to run?

Thank you,

Tregarth

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Gaming

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-11-24T06:13:45+00:00

    [EDIT: Another post has brought to my attention that the link for the

    DX Web Installer has been changed.

    I had thought the Web Installer had been made redundant as the old link was redirected to the Win10download page (brilliant move MS). I was then reminded how the Web Installer page used the phrase DX9.0c and 'previous', when in fact is will

    install any 'missing' DX file including 10 & 11 (another go figure moment :D ).

    Note that the Web Installer does not overwrite existing files, so it does not repair corrupt files. ]

    Oops - The first time in a couple of weeks that I didn't include instructions...

    • When the DX installer asks where to install the files to, you choose any folder you like,

    but I generally have it unpack (DirectX does not actually get installed at this point. The files are only

    'unpacked' ) the files to a folder on my desktop, because this folder can be deleted after the final install is done.

    • Once the files are unpacked to this folder you open the folder and locate DXSETUP.exe .

    Run  this installer to finalise  the  DirectX re-installation.- When the installer is finished you can delete this folder.

    • If any files were absent, or corrupt, reinstalling DirectX would fix the issue (MS had another tool until recentlycalled the DirectX Web Installer that installed any 'missing' files, but it did not fix corrupt files as does the full installer).
    • Reinstalling DX was only a precaution should the DX9 file the game needs is corrupt.

    Note that Windows errors are often misleading. Windows often does not know Arthur from Martha, andspits out whatever it thinks is a close second.

    "... but I have a nasty feeling the latest version of Win10 is not Dx9 friendly."

    We can assure you that DX9, 10 and 11 are completely different, and do not conflict with one another.

    Win10 is DX9 friendly. I have over 150 games installed that, between them, use every version of DirextX(including DX8, for which there is only one file), and all but one run on Win10.btw - CFS2 runs fine on Win10, but I do have to use a noCD fix because of this DRM blocking malware.

    • Each game uses a specific DX file, or files (why I listed how many there are),  eg - d3dx9_32.

    A newer game may use two DX files eg- d3dx9_42 and d3dx10_42.

    This allows people with older hardware to play the newer games, as graphics cards are limited to

    which DX version they could process (The upper limit a card is built for. DX9 cannot process DX10, but a card

    built for DX10 can process DX9).

    • However in the past couple of years some games have not been allowing for DX9, and more recently there

    have been a couple of games that are DX11 only.

    • As I pointed out previously, Win10 has and is capable of using all versions of DirectX from DX9 and up.

    Windows XP was limited to  DX9 ( plus DX7 & 8).DX10 was introduced with Vista . DX 11 was introduced with Win7.- The new kid on the block is DX12, which is exclusive to Win10.- Games that used DX7 and 8 are murky territory. Many will run on OS's newer than XP, but may require fixes/tweaks.

    • You have not mentioned your system specifications, but if I had to guess, it would be a laptop that is only

    marginally compatible with Win10. 

    A lot of people with laptops, or desktops with older 'integrated' graphics, and some with older dedicated graphics cards have been seduced into trying Win10 ('free') when their hardware does not have Win10 specific graphics drivers.

    This may be fine if only viewing video, but is not going to work well with games.

    .

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-11-24T12:02:41+00:00

    Thank you very much for your helpful reply which is much appreciated.

    I can now see the FSX start screen but then immediately see "Product Activation Error  Error Code 8-c0000006 "  I also see the normal "creating scenery index" files but cannot activate the program.

    I have looked this up using Google, one suggestion is to run the program using Win7 emulation, it doesn't work, so I have not made much progress,

    For info my desktop PC is running an i5 (2.8 GHz) chip with 4 GB of Ram and 1 TB HD so i am not underpowered.  It ran FSX happily until I "improved" things by upgrading to Win10

    Thanks again,

    Best regards,

    Tregarth

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-11-23T16:22:10+00:00

    Thank you both for your help, but I am afraid neither worked.

    When I ran DISM/... /RestoreHealth I saw a message "Restore Protection did not find any integrity violations."  I then re-ran SFC, it said all was OK.  But FSX still wants Dx9.

    I have downloaded the DX Redist (June 2010), which started but asked where I wanted to install the files.  I have no idea where they should go so I stopped.  I am using Win10 64 bit.

    I looked in SysWOW64, all the d3dx9 files seem to be present, you do not say what to do if any are absent.

    Where do the Dx Redist files go?

    Again, thank you but I have a nasty feeling the latest version of Win10 is not Dx9 friendly.

    Regards,

    Tregarth

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-11-23T12:22:33+00:00

    There have been a lot of threads regarding MS flight sims on these forums, but I haven't read most of them

    so don't know what the fixes for Win10 are, but....

    You don't 'make' Win10 - 7/8/8.1 or Vista run DX9. The game chooses which of the DirectX files(there are many) it requires.

    • It's a common misconception that Win7/8/8.1  have only DX 11.

    Win7/8/8.1 have three versions of DX - 9,10 and 11. Win10 also has DirectX 12

    (only two graphics related DX12 files that I am aware of atm).

    • In your case 11.2 indicates your machines graphics cannot use the full feature set of DX12.
    • The following is a list of the Direct X .dll's you will have when the files are up to date.

    There are more DX files (Xinput and audio), but these are most of the graphics related Direct X  .dll's

    Go to the Windows / System 32 folder, (and SysWOW64 if you have 64bit).  

    • They are in alphabetical order and will start with d3dx9 - 24 > 43 . Then d3dx10 - 33 > 43

    & finally d3dx11 - 42 > 43.

    There should also be - d3d9, d3d10 and d3d11. These come before the D3Dcompilers - 33>43.

    • You may want to try reinstalling DirectX using the DirectX runtime installer (June 2010)

    Yes old, but that is when the last DX files before DX12 were released.

    DX9.0c is redundant on any Vista or newer OS.     The June 2010 installer has the same DX 9 files as DX9.0c.

    Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - DirectX Redist (June 2010)

    • I do know that CFS 1&2 use a form of copy write that MS has become so paranoid about that they have

    introduced a dictatorial Big Brother concept they call DRM blocking.

    This only affects disk based version of  games, and it affects many games and hundreds of thousands

    (millions) of gamers who still have a collection of disk based games.

    • If your games DVD has a file called SECDRV.sys it is one of the games that MS has attempted to make

    redundant when using a retail disk version.

    A noCD fix/hack is the only alternative to circumvent DRM blocking when using Win10.

    MS is not allowing  people to decide for themselves if they want to take a minuscule risk with these

    old DRM being invaded by a malware, and have no mechanism to disable DRM blocking in Win10.

    .

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-11-23T12:02:24+00:00

    Your problem is something else.  DX 11.2 is backward compatible with DX9 software.

    Please run a system file check (SFC) & DISM  if you are on win 8 or higher

    All instructions are in our Wiki article below...

    Should you have any questions please ask us.

    System file check (SFC) Scan and Repair System Files

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