"routine" to remove DirectX 9.0 from my computer and reinstalled DirectX
8.1a. This is easy to do, and it works like a champ. Those of you who may
be like me, and don't like the way many things operate on your system after
(thinking you had to) installing DX 9.0 (maybe during the NR2003
installation)......can now rejoice in easily returning your system to DX 8.1
(or any version you want). I am still running Win98SE....and my system was
unstable and had lots of hangs and BSOD's with DX 9.0 installed.
Save these instructions, they are universal for removing any version of DX
and installing any version of DX!
Removing DirX from your Computer:
1. Download the version of DirX you want to install from MS or any other
suitable source (or copy from a game CD if you have one).
2. Clear your c:\Windows\temp directory and copy the .exe DirX installer
you've just downloaded to that directory. Leave it there for now.....go to
step #3.
3. Go to Start/Run and clear the window, type in: "regedit" (omitting the
quotes), hit the "enter key" on your keyboard. You will now be in the
WindowsXX (any version) Registry using a "registry editor" called,
"regedit." This is a little utility that automatically installs with all
versions of Windows...its just fine to use it.
4. Go to "HKEY_Local_Machine/Software/Microsoft/DirectX" - this folder
contains the DX version entry that DirectX uses to make sure that a current
installation is an earlier DX version than the one being installed (or it
won't do the installation). I don't like to "delete" any registry entry
until I'm sure that it doesn't***up my computer, so I like to "rename"
things. So, right click - rename the "DirectX" folder to something like
"xDirectX" and close the regedit program. ***DO NOT REBOOT YOUR COMPUTER at
this time!
5. Now, go to "Start/Run" and browse to the c:\Windows\temp folder, select
your Dx installer executable file and run the Dx installation routine.
Now...you can reboot your computer when so prompted.
6. Back at your desktop? Confirm that the DX version you are now running
is the correct one. The are several ways to do this, the easiest is to run
DXDiag (from the C:\Programs\DirectX\Setup tab)....look at the version
number of DX on the first tab/page.
7. If this is correct (it should show DX 8.1 if that's what you installed
after removing DX 9.0 - for example), then it would be wise to return to the
registry editor and remove/delete the "xDirectX" folder you created earlier
completely.....but its not totally necessary (but it is a good idea).
That's it, you are now back to the version DX you wanted.
Hope this is helpful.......
Regards,
Tom Pabst