Steam - The Latest version of Microsoft DirectX(r) is required to play [game here]
If I try to launch any game from steam, it gives this error:
Steam - latest DirectX required
The latest version of MicrosoftX(r) is required to play [game] Microsoft DirectX(r) download site
However, I can still launch games outside of steam with the executable if that particular game allows you to (not all of them do, or some don't work properly.) This leads me to believe this error has nothing to do with DirectX 9.0c being installed, but something to do with the registry or incompetence on Valve's part.
This error is new as well, everything used to work fine. Tt's been happening for a month or so. I do not remember what I could have done that would cause this. I haven't messed with DirectX at all. I've looked at every search result I could find in regards to this error, but none of the solutions have helped.
The link in the error redirects to a page begging you to download windows 10 (guessing this is their way of saying Page Not Found.) I found the "improved" link to the download at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35&44F86079-8679-400C-BFF2-9CA5F2BCBDFC=1
As with Microsoft, installing fails with:
DirectX Setup: An internal system error occured. Please refer to DXError.log and DirectX.log in your Windows folder to determine problem.
But those two files are not in the windows folder.
Here's what I've tried (in no particular order):
- Reinstalling Steam
- Reinstalling some games in case it would download the needed DirectX
- Reinstalling the graphics card driver
- Reinstalling update KB2670838
- Reinstalling, from the control panel, everything related to .NET, C++, and Visual Studio
- Running the DirectX install as Administrator
- Using the "DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010)" installer instead
- Running them with steam closed
- Running them with anti-virus closed
- Running them in safe mode
- Running sfc /scannow
- Running CCleaner on the registry
- Launching game with /dx9 or /dx11
-
Adding this to the registry:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectX] "InstalledVersion"=hex:00,00,00,09,00,00,00,00 "Version"="4.09.00.0904"
Here is what DxDiag says
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 1/2/2016, 18:08:06
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.151019-1254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: p7-1247c
BIOS: Ver: HIB_714.ROM vHIB7.14
Processor: AMD A8-3820 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (4 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 7664MB RAM
Page File: 3754MB used, 11573MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode
------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Sound Tab 4: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)
---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: AMD Radeon HD 6550D Graphics
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9640)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9640&SUBSYS_2ACD103C&REV_00
Display Memory: 4074 MB
Dedicated Memory: 497 MB
Shared Memory: 3576 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: HP 2311 Series Wide LCD Monitor
Monitor Model: HP 2311
Monitor Id: HWP2939
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: DVI
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1094 (English)
Driver Version: 8.892.1.1000
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/24/2011 04:19:12, 862720 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D500-11CF-CA77-C70ABEC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x9640
SubSys ID: 0x2ACD103C
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem130.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_Sumo_Desktop:8.892.1.1000:pci\ven_1002&dev_9640&subsys_2acd103c
Rank Of Driver: 00E60001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
Deinterlace Caps: (truncated)
D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
DXVA-HD: Not Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
Solution 1:
I've had cases where installing an older game forces an installation of a particular version of DirectX, and somehow the compatibility is broken. It seems to report version N, but really some parts of it are an earlier version. I recommend removing DirectX entirely and reinstalling the whole thing. You could just try to install the current version without removing anything, but that leaves open the possibility of conflict again.
So far, the times I've had that with Steam games (and other non-steam games) removing/reinstalling DirectX has resolved the issue.
EDIT: One of the things I didn't mention before was the fact that Steam provides a bit of a "contained installation" of games. If there are particular things that a game needs (Dosbox is a good example) then Steam will handle that for you. While it's entirely possible for you to run some games outside of Steam, they are really not designed to do that. Steam manages things like DirectX installations for a game, preventing it from quashing the one that you have on your computer. Some games use Windows Live, some games use UPlay, and Steam manages that for you. I'd highly recommend not launching games outside of Steam if you can manage it.