DirectX 9.0a .... and older video cards

I recently download/installed DirectX9.0a and immediately notice all sorts of hang-up with display (cursor locks up, entire screen freezes, cpu running but display not) ... used DirectXDiag and noticed error that my card/driver was not capable of some of the acceleration features. So, I disabled the DirectDraw Acceleration and Direct3D and system is stable now. But at what price ? any input on downside of this? I have (per manf the latest driver version) ... any other ideas ?

 

You have 9.0a, well guess what. M$ says to get 9.0b due to a critical update. It just came out 7-23-03.

 

The problem mudman has is Video card related not DirectX

What do you have for a Video card ?

Either it is an older card or it does not have the proper drives that support all of the capabilities of Directx.

OR the card drivers are not installed CORRECTLY.

I believe that says it all.

BillyBob

 

A suggestion From Member to Member

And coming from experience.

We should not upgrade Directx UNLESS we are have specific problems related to it.

BillyBob

 

Billy Bob--

I heartily agree. And I am still running DirectX8.1 to avoid the very problems mentioned by mudman.

BUT The upgrade (?) to DirectX 9.0b is designated as a Critical Update, for among other reasons, security issues.
Now what do we do?

P.S. Dumb question. Can anyone comment whether there is a difference between the upgrade to DirectX 9.0b and the security patch offered in MS03-030?

 

BUT The upgrade (?) to DirectX 9.0b is designated as a Critical Update, for among other reasons, security issues.
Now what do we do?

If you already have Dx9.0a then patch it and HOPE and PRAY for the best. Just like the rest of the patches off of the Critical upfates from Windows update site. I have not had any problems with the Windows Updates since I upgrade from 98FE to SE. With FE I did have problems.

But as to Directx itself. The Video card ( or drivers for same ) must be capable of handling it.

And BTW. I believe the DX9.0b patch added a LOT more than just a patch. It looked to me as if it re-install the full thing. And the file that was downloaded from the Cirtical updtes was only a setup file anyway. If you did not allow it to go bacl online it would not complete.

BillyBob

 

BillyBob--Thanks for your further thoughts.
I should have clarified that I now run Win98FE and DirectX8.1. My video card/drivers are over five years old, pretty cheap (probably on the processor chip) and I do not game, run MIDI files, etc. That is why I never upgraded DirectX after version 8.1.

Since my last post I have read MSKB 819696
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;819696
There is not even a download site offered for the security patch with my combination of DirectX and Windows98.
And concerning upgrading DirectX to v9.0b there is the statement
"Prerequisites
DirectX 9.0b requires Windows Server 2003 (all versions except Windows Server 2003 64-bit editions), Windows XP (all versions except Windows XP 64-bit editions), Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3), Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4), or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition. "

So why am I being offered DirectX 9.0b as a Critical Update at the Windows Update site?

(Rhetorical question )

 

Ah .. WindowsUpdate gets us again

So there you have it ... those of us that trust Microsoft and WindowsUpdate (at least on Critital issues) have just been shown the light.
No where in the WindowsUpdate did it mention that DirectX9.0a was not compatible with my Win98SP1 system. Now I'm stuck with something that (as I understand it) cannot be uninstalled and has adversely effected the funcitoning of my system's older video cards/drivers.
Thanks MicroSoft

 

And now that I see those specs I STRONGLY suggest that you DO NOT attempt any upgrading of Directx.

I just worked on a machine with card and drivers only ONE year old and did not have the 3D and Driect Draw available unitil I updated video drivers.

I just looked at the Directx Diagnostics on my Wifes machine wtih 98SE on it. The Display says that several things are only available in Windows version of ME and Up. And it does not list the 9.0b update even though the machine has DX shown as 9.

No that is wrong. It say that certain things are NOT CERTIFIED ( WHQL ) by MS in anything lower than ME.

There is a security upfate for DX but it does not MENTION 9.0a or b.

Like it or not ( I HATE IT ) but Mr. Gates and Company are driving us into going for Windows XP.

I do have XP Pro. And I will FIRMLY say. " It is not a damned bit better than my Win98SE. " And other than more or less being forced to go with it before long " I WASTED $199. "

I need to plug my 98SE drive back in and see what it says there. I THINK that has DX9.0a on it.

But as Welshjim states. If you are not doing a lot of heavy dutry gaming and other things the higher versions of DX are not needed.

I again advise. " DO NOT upgrade Directx unless you are having problems that require it to be. I say this for just the reason mudman has. It can not be un-stalled. And most of the time the messages at the bottom of DXDIAG screen can be ignored. As most of the time it just says that MS does not approve of the drivers being used. Even though they may be working fine.

BillyBob

 

You might keep an eye on directx buster for a while. It's a directx uninstaller but currently there's no version for DX 9. I would guess that it will be coming in the near future however. If it becomes available, download the file and run it. Then reinstall your old version of DirectX. I've use it in the past several times and have never had a problem with it. There's a link to another page for an uninstaller that works for ver. 9 but it only mentions xp and not win98. Don't know if you can run it on 98 or not.

 

I unwittingly installed DirectX 9 on my newly aquired rebuilt PII, trusting the information that it was suitable for Win98(SE). Same problem as mudman .
I wasn't prepared to run a crippled video system, so reformatted and installed DirectX 8.1. Now it runs like it is supposed to and the kids can play a few games.
Wouldn't it be nice if the installer did a preinstall check of the hardware/drivers considering that you cannot uninstall.

Matt
Note: Luckly I had only spent two days loading the software and I only had to waste one more day reinstalling.
I haven't found (or didn't notice) the smallprint that says that DX 9.0 will only run the latest hardware (that is WinXP ready anyway...so why don't you get a new system with XP on it, you dimwit)

Long live Win 98...haha

 

I just plugged in my 98SE HD and checked the Windows Update site.

The DX9.0b was not listed under Critical.

It was under 98 or 98 SE updates.

When I checked in XP ( If I REMEMBER correctly ) it was under Ctitical.

Windows Updates site is CONFUSSING AS ALL HELLO !!!!!

My advice. If not needed DON'T

I will go for it just to see waht happens as I am planning in redoing this HD anyway.

But if thing do go astray I have the XP HD to fall back on.

BillyBob

 

Well I am back and all seems well.

I now have DX 9.0b on this 98SE machine.

And the at the 3D test that cube rotates MUCH FASTER than it does in XP.

BillyBob

 

BillyBob--Thanks for all your comments. DirectX9.0b RunTime is still showing as a Critical Update for me. Interesting.
"Critical Updates and Service Packs
Critical updates are already selected for you to install
Review the list of critical updates below. You can remove any item you don't want.

Review and install updates Total items selected: (1)
DirectX 9.0b End-User Runtime
Download size: 293 KB, < 1 minute
DirectX 9.0b includes security and performance updates. Download now to get the latest DirectX updates. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. Once you have installed this item, it cannot be removed "
Glad to hear all is well for you.

 

I just went back on the other machine for a double check and it WAS listed there under Critical as being 948 KB

But I think that was only a patch. It did not install anything else like it did on this machine.

So I think we can ASSUME that the Critical is only a patch. And the one under the other udates it the full deal.

It must have something ( or everthing ) to do with the setup of the machine.

Beats hell outta me. And very confusing.

It is no wonder that we have problems understanding each other at times. And from where we got what. And what it did after we got it.

OUCH !!!. further confusion I just went back to the other machine and I see under recommended Updates there is a DirectX 9.0b End User RunTime file at 293KB.

OK. I believe that is the Setup files that runs and puts you back on line to finish.

So I see it now as being related to where you are in the Windows Updates as to what you get.

Are you confused enough yet ? I sure am.

BillyBob

 

I did the 9.0b update. The file downloaded works very much like the IE download file, except there is not an option to download and run setup later, or any other options. It expands what it has downloaded into a subfolder of your temp folder, installs then deletes them.
It was the full deal, not just a patch, on a 98SE, previously 8.1b.
Curiously, I found a Msdownload.tmp folder on my D: partition. I was looking for where it put the file it was downloading before unzipping and did not think to look on my D: drive. I was expecting it to appear on C: or on my F:, which is where my Temp and Temp IE folders are. I had thought it would be in the Temp IE since it wasn't appearing anywhere in my Temp folder. Was I surprised!

 

markp62

That is the way it worked for me too.

Do not be surprised at where you find Msdownload.tmp folder(s)

I have one on 5 out of 6 partitions. They are all empty.

I take them out. They get put back. I gave up and leave them.

BillyBob

 

Just thought i'd add this for info to others. I also run Win98SE, and have the ATI AIW 8500DV vid card. I "upgraded" to DX 9 from 8.1. When i tried to run DXDiag,the progress bar at the bottom got about 2/3rds of the way across and froze. My floppy light came on and it began clicking as if looking for a disk. This kept up for several minutes and for all intents and purposes my PC was frozen. Mouse would move,but no output. After messing with it for several hours with no joy, i used my Drive Image backup. Not a happy camper at M$'s playground to say the least!

 

2/3's done and floppy running ... ah yes!

Well, never expected that my little posting would generate soooo much chatter. But I guess DX9.0a is a hot topic.
I did check a few things after reading all your notes ... first is that 9.0a SysReq lists Win98 with no qualifiers as to SP so that debunks some earlier remarks.
Further on my WinUpdate DirectX9.0a was listed under Critical Updates .... hence my download/install.
And to the last comment ... when I run DirectX Diag the **** progress bar also stops at 2/3's and my "A" drive keeps getting hit upon ... oh well ... to bad I can't go backwards ... I've disables all the acceleration options and the machine is running fine ... lesson learned ????
probably not

 

I see most of you are at least running direct X 8.1 I have just recently upgradet my video card to a ASUS V9180 Magic and still running direct X 7 should I at least update to 8.1 like most of you have. on 98SE.
I just visited "Direct X Busters" and they guarantie removal up to 8.1 but state that it may work OK up to v9.
should I be adventures ??
hawk22