How do I fix the “CoCreateInstance failed” error?

Question

Good afternoon. I upgraded my computer to Windows 11. Everything is working fine, except for one game. When I launch Midnight Club 2, I get a “CoCreateInstance failed” error. To be honest, I don't know how to fix it. The game is a legitimate copy from Steam. I didn't have this error on the previous version of Windows 10.

Answer 1

That CoCreateInstance failed error is not a Windows error it is specific to the Midnight Club 2 game, Windows 11 is not as compatible to older games as previous versions of Windows was, it uses a different graphics sub-system.

The Midnight Club 2 game is 23 years old and requires the DirectX 9 runtime to be installed, try installing that from this link and test if the game then works, if not, the best option would be to post a question to the Steam forum to see if anyone there has a workaround to get that game working in Windows 11.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-ie/download/details.aspx?id=8109

Answer 2

The error is most likely caused by an older game component or dependency that no longer works correctly after upgrading to Windows 11. Use the following steps that apply to older games on newer Windows versions:

1. Install all Windows Updates
   • Open Start → All Programs → Windows Update.
   • Select Check for updates.
   • Install all Important updates. Some games require core components like .NET Framework, Visual C++, or DirectX; if these are missing or incorrectly installed, setup or launch can fail.
2. Update DirectX and video drivers
   • Install the latest DirectX End-User Runtimes from the Microsoft site listed in the context:
     http://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en.
   • Then run Windows Update again to pick up any available display adapter (GPU) driver updates.
3. Make the game compatible with the latest Windows
   • Midnight Club 2 is an older title; compatibility issues are common after upgrading Windows.
   • Follow the guidance for older apps on newer Windows versions (for Windows 10/11): use compatibility settings such as:
     • Right‑click the game’s executable.
     • Open Properties → Compatibility tab.
     • Try running it in compatibility mode for an earlier Windows version and with Run this program as an administrator enabled.
4. Clean temporary files and reinstall the game
   • Press Start, type %temp%, press Enter.
   • In the folder, choose Organize → Select All, then Organize → Delete, and confirm.
   • Reinstall Midnight Club 2 from Steam after the temp folder is cleared.

If the error persists, combine compatibility mode with the updated DirectX/video drivers and fully updated Windows; this addresses the most common causes when an older game that worked on Windows 10 fails after moving to Windows 11.

---

References:

• Error message when you install a Microsoft game or mapping program
• DirectDraw or Direct3D option is unavailable
• Make older apps or programs compatible with the latest version of Windows