DX9 installation problems

I've had a quick search through the archived posts and I couldn't find anything relating to this so hopefully someone can help.

I'm pretty sure my problem is not with DirectX but it has become apparent since I tried to install it.

The installation appears to work fine, however when I restart after the prompt, I get this message repeated over and over:

"Windows could not upgrade the file %2 from %1 %2 %1 "

Finally I get a message telling me that Windows may not start or run properly. The latter in my case.

On running dxdiag I was informed that the version of dxdiag I am using is older than the version of directx present.

I am sure I have seen the "could not upgrade file" message before which is why I don't think it's DX9 that's the problem.

So far I have only found one possible solution to the problem which was to rename "wininit.ini" to something else and try the installation again. Unfortunately there was no "wininit.ini" file present on my system.

I tried running the installation again, and before reseting the system I renamed the "wininit.ini" file which was now present, as expected.

This time windows started without the messages, but the installation is obviously not completed. I reran the installation and the same problem arose.

Hopefully someone can help. I've tried to give as much info on the problem as possible without boring you too much.

Here is my system list

Soyo K7V Dragon+
AMD Athlon XP 1900+
256Mb DDR
Terratec DMX6Fire
Gainward GeForce 4200 Ti

 

You may want to try uninstalling all the stacked DirectX versions that seem to be interacting:
http://www.dxbuster.de/index_e.html
http://www.freewebs.com/firecat/

 

I downloaded dxe108 and used it, running sfprot.bat first as I wasn't sure if I've got pchealth on or not (I don't think I have).

After running dxe108 the computer was restarted and this time I got the "Windows could not upgrade file..." error message 4 times before windows started.

I next tried to re-install directx which again seemed to work until the computer was restarted. This time I got the message 136 times before windows started.

I've rerun dxdiag (which now doesn't give me an error message before it starts). On the display tab notes it says problems were found in the registry. It also says this on the Input tab, and there are multiple message in the Network tab about files missing or damaged.

 

The directions state that this should be done in Safe Mode on Windows Me due to System Restore and File Protection.

If you haven't run it in Safe Mode, try it. It sounds like the uninstallation was not complete.

 

I would bet that if Windows ME System File Protection was shut off, DX would install just fine.

Me was designed to not allow 3rd party software to overwrite system files. But the dam thing won't even let MS software in sometimes either.

daviec

Once you get DX8 installed, don't forget to shut System Restore off. Let if clean out the old restore points. Restart it and let it make new ones.

That will take away the chance of you making an error if you use SR and getting the wrong one and UNDOING ALL of your hard work.

Your call there.

BillyBob

 

I'll try dxe in again this time in safe mode. I didn't see that in the instructions.

Also regarding System Restore. I haven't had it switched on. I reckon this was my first mistake, as I could have rolled back after the problems started.

Hopefully I can get DX9 to install correctly soon, but has anyone any idea why I'm having this problem in the first place. As soon as DX9 is safely installed I'm going to set a restore point, then try installing something else which requires rebooting. I'm sure I've seen this error message before and I just waited to see if it actually had any effect.

Off to try dxe in safe mode, Thanks

 

I tried running dxe108 in safe mode. When it restarted I still get the error messages.

I then installed DX9 in safe mode also, and restarted and got the error messages again (I didn't count this time but I'm guessing it's still 136 )

If it helps any, I think I've remembered when I saw the message before. I'm sure it was when I tried to install new nvidia drivers. They also require a reboot.

 

OK on System Restore.

I still think the problem is System File protection which is apparently doing its job. And that is why you keep getting the message " Can't upgrade the file "

Did you try turning it off ?

It is not the same thing as System Restore.

Don't ask me where the setting for it is as I have forgotten. But I do know it can be turned off

I think even if you get DX installed in the safe Mode System file protection may throw it back out when you restart.

BillyBob

 

The first thing I did before using dxe108 was to boot to DOS and run a program called sfprot.bat

I didn't know why at the time (just following the instructions) but it's now clear that it would be to disable System File Protection.

The only information I can find on this feature is this from the MS "Support ".

When I retried it in Safe Mode earlier, I didn't run the sfprot.bat

I'm also not very clued up on DOS, so when I eventually managed to get sfprot.bat to run in DOS earlier, I then reset the machine to get Windows to start. This may be the problem, so how do I get windows to start after I've booted to DOS and run sfprot.bat (I've got a funny feeling this should be something simple that I should know )

 

This is getting more complex all the time!

This is only a suggestion and certainly not guaranteed. If it were me, I'd get rid of the video drivers and DirectX and start over.

In Safe Mode, remove your video drivers. Look for any folders that have NVidia drivers or setup files and delete those. Run the DirectX remover (try both) and then search for any remaining DirectX relics. Search for "DirectX ". Delete the folders. You will probably find a DirectX setup folder, probably inside Windows Update Setup Files. In fact, you may just delete all of the files in that WU folder, too. Delete all the files in Windows/Temp (all you can, anyway).

Though the NVidia drivers are something new, I suspect that your problem originated with versions of files from different versions of DirectX being together. This can happen, for instance, if you upgrade from 98 to ME when the version of DX you had in 98 was newer than the one installed by ME setup. Or, it can happen when ME is reinstalled on a system that has a newer DX than ME's setup version. Older files get mixed with newer ones.
It is time-consuming, but if dxdiag is working, make a list of all the DX files it mentions and remove those manually in Safe Mode, too.

After getting rid of all these files, restart and see if NVidia drivers are installed automatically. If not, then install the newest one manually.

Then try to install DX9 again.

PS. Ctrl-Alt-Del should restart from DOS, or, you can usually go to Windows by typing: win (depending what folder you are in).

 

I am totaly confused here. How did you get to DOS ?

Windows ME does have a DOS to boot to. Neither the Command prompt at boot up or the MS DOS mode from within Windows is available in Windows ME.

As far as I know Win 98 SE was the last version to have these.

To the best of my knowledge and recollection the only DOS in ME is a DOS WINDOW. ( MS DOS prompt ). Which is not clean DOS. At this point Windows is still running.

The only other way to get DOS with ME is to boot to a Floppy Disk.

Or am I missing something ? Or has my memory gone sour ?

Please clear this up for me.

BillyBob

 

Another thought.

If you were at the MS DOS Prompt and you used Cntrl-Alt-Del that was not the proper thing to do.

To get out of the DOS Window properly requires you to type EXIT

Anything else will not work properly.

The MS DOS Mode in Win98 SE also requires EXIT to get out of it properly.

BillyBob

 

The readme file with dxe108 had a section for Windows ME users. According to this I had to run sfprot.bat in DOS first or it dxe108 would fail

As you've stated I thought there was no real DOS in Windows ME so I booted to DOS using a boot disk, the ran sfprot.bat. Then I used CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot to Windows, and ran dxe108.

Here's the last thing I tried last night:

Used a boot disk to get to DOS.
Ran sfprot.bat
Got a message saying succesfully installed.
Removed boot disk, and rebooted using CTRL-ALT-DEL.
Started Windows in safe mode
Ran DXE108.
Restarted when prompted, again in Safe Mode.
Still getting error messages "Windows could not upgrade file..." though only twice this time.
Ran DX9 installation.
Rebooted when prompted.
Still getting error messages (message is displayed on screen approx 136 times during boot-up).

Can I just re-state that although I'm not sure of what's going on here I am more than certain that the problem is not with DX9. I'm pretty sure that even if I eventually manage to install it here I'm simply firefighting. The next time I try to install something which requires a restart to finalise it I will get the same problem

 

OK it looks like we are on the same page as far as DOS goes.

I think that you think correctly.

I also believe that the problem may be with ME itself.

I also am not certain but my wild guess it that the ME System File protection is either doing its its job or is working incorrectly.

OR as another wild guess. Have you tried making sure that the C:\Windows\Temp folder was cleaned out before trying to do the install of DX ? Sometimes if there is any leftover trash in there it may cause problems.

I also had problems installing or upgrading things when I had ME for a short period. But being the " Lets Try it and see what happens " kind of Guy I am, I just used Startup Cop and just disabled a bunch of stuff. It was amazing how much better ME behaved.

But by this time ( for me ) ME was on its way out anyway. So it made no difference if I did kill it.

Oh BTW. I do not recognize the file name dxe108 as being a Directx install file.

The two files that I have for DX9 are;

dxwebsetup.exe which goes online for the rest of the install.

dx90_redist.exe is the full download that does not require being online to install.

But I am also using Win98 SE. So if that makes a difference or not I do not know. But I do not think it does.

BillyBob

 

I'm at work just now so I'll need to wait till I get home before I try anything else.

First thing I'll do is try the same method but this time with the windows\temp folder cleared.

With regard to start-up items, I have very little starting up as I disable it all through "msconfig ".

dxe108 is not a dx9 installation file. It's the directx uninstaller suggested to me in a previous post. The install file I'm using is dxsetup.exe , I think. I'd need to check when I get home later.

 

dxe108 is not a dx9 installation file. It's the directx uninstaller suggested to me in a previous post.

Got it.

Now I am nore confused

That brings up another question. If you are indeed trying to remove something, why are you getting the Message about not being able to upgrade ?

Or does that come up AFTER trying the install ?

The install file I'm using is dxsetup.exe

All the DX install files that I have ( except DX9 ) are named DXxxeng.exe. This goes for DX7 thru DX81.

BillyBob

 

Thank goodness I'm not the only one confused here.

I get "Windows could not upgrade..." errors after uninstalling using dxe108. Only a few though. Then I get them again after trying to install dx9.

I'm not sure what the file is I'm running to setup dx9, I'd have to check that later. I just assumed it was dxsetup as it rung a bell.

 

Have a Look here

 

Yes, I've used that site as well, in case there was something wrong with the version on the DVD. I downloaded and used dxwebsetup.exe and got the same result.

Just to confirm that the file I run to install DX9 is called dxsetup. I can't see a filename of the format you suggested.

I'm going to try again, now with my windows/temp folder empty, and do everything in safe mode.

 

If you find that you need to turn SPF off, go here http://www.windows-help.net/windowsMe/system-file-protection.html and follow the links. Its a big PIA because it involves changing registry settings and then back again.

Regards - Charles