8

I've just installed a new game on my Windows 7 RTM machine. The game is asking me to install DirectX 9.0(c). I said 'NO' because my machine has DirectX 11 (confirmed with dxdiag). When I run the game, an error occurs informing me that d3dx9_39.dll is missing.

Is Windows 7 DirectX backwards-compatible?

5 Answers 5

9

Yes.

The Direct X installer is smart enough to just pop files there for stuff to work. Some programs go about things the wrong way (as is the case here) and ask for files directly, rather than the functionality the files provide.

2
  • So it won't overwrite my existing version of DX11?
    – Pure.Krome
    Aug 20, 2009 at 12:24
  • 5
    No. Older versions (like version 5 or 6) may do this but MS got their act together and now it just adds the libraries and doesn't kill things. If you use Steam, just about every game does this, it's harmless. Aug 20, 2009 at 12:31
1

You can safely allow modern games to install whatever version of DirectX they need. Doing so will NOT affect the DirectX that is currently installed on your computer.

As you have seen, not allowing a game to install its required version of DirectX might result in the game not working.

1

There is one great way to do this if you do not want to install previous versions of DirectX: get the required .dll file (from the Internet or from a system where that version of DirectX is installed) and place it in the root folder of the application looking for that file.

This will work fine.

0
1

The DirectX runtime installer will fetch all the monthly patches - you will need these, so let it run.

You can get the runtime installer from:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en

2
  • So win7 insn't already up-to-date? that would be ... er ... weird???
    – Pure.Krome
    Aug 20, 2009 at 12:23
  • Yes I find it weird too. But DirectX 9 games often need to get the latest patches. If you run the installer or get it from microsoft.com/downloads/… it should work.
    – Tom
    Aug 20, 2009 at 12:26
0

I would let the game installer run the DirectX 9 installer. You can then update the DirectX 9 installation via Windows Update or download and install it manually. This way it will be up to date for Windows 7.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .