Most old games do not run on the new operating system Windows system 10, and it is initially installed on laptops sold in stores and even desktop computers. When a user decides to install a 7 year old game ( old version GTA, for example), supported by DirectX 9, an error occurs when starting. To solve this problem, you need to know how to install DirectX 9 on Windows 10. Many users are unable to install the ninth version of the API set - it is outdated and incompatible with Windows 10.

The problem with the compatibility of old games with new DirectX 11 or 12 is the lack of DirectX 9 libraries in them. It is completely incomprehensible why the developers did not use them as part of DirectX12 and thereby ensure backward compatibility. Perhaps they considered that old games and applications would no longer be usable on the new OS Windows 10. Now this no longer matters - there is a solution for installing the old version of DirectX on a PC.

To install the old set of APIs, you need to enable the “DirectPlay” component - it is located in the control panel. We need to open it.

Go to the search and write: “Control Panel”. In the panel, find and launch the uninstall program utility:

In the window that opens, click on “Enable and disable Windows components"(located in the left menu):

In the window that opens, look for the line “Components of previous versions”, check the box next to it, expand the branch and also check the box next to DirectPlay.

Click "OK" and try to reinstall DirectX 9. Often this method helps to cope with the problem, but there is no guarantee that it will help in your case. If nothing helps, and DirectX on Windows x32 bit or x64 bit is still not installed, then move on to the next method.

DirectX package

Microsoft is aware of this issue. Therefore, on its official website there is a standalone package that includes versions 9-11 of DirectX. You can download it from here. Subsequently, the pack can be installed even without the Internet.

The download begins. IN Google Chrome The downloaded file is visible on the bottom panel of the browser:

After downloading, we need to unzip the archive. Run the file and agree to the terms of the license agreement (click “Yes”). A window appears - there you need to specify the path to the folder where the package will be unzipped:

Click on the “Browse” button and select the folder in which to place the files. The most convenient way is to create a folder on your desktop and specify it. After installing the application, you just have to uninstall it. Select a folder, click “OK” and unpacking begins. It will take 5-10 seconds.

Now we go to our new folder and see a lot of archives. We don’t pay attention to them, we are only interested in the DXSETUP.EXE application - this is the installer. It's easy to find and stands out from the rest of the files.

We launch it by double-clicking the left mouse button, accept the terms of the license agreement, click “Next” and “Next” again.

The installation (update) will begin - it will take 15-20 seconds (depending on the performance of the computer).

If an antivirus is installed on your computer, it may swear during the installation process, since the program makes changes to the system file. This is normal, because the purpose of an antivirus is to protect system files from Trojans. Therefore, when updating DirectX, you must either disable the antivirus or select the “Allow” option when receiving a message about the DXSETUP.EXE program making changes to system files.

There is no need to be afraid, because a PC application downloaded from the official website will not cause any harm to the system, especially since the archive cannot contain a Trojan virus. If you download a package from a third-party resource, and not from the official Microsoft OS website, then there is a danger of “catching” a virus. This is what it looks like using the 360 ​​Total Security antivirus as an example:

After permission, the program will continue the installation and complete it successfully. At the very end, click the “Finish” button, after which the folder with the API archives can be deleted - they will no longer be needed. If the installation was unsuccessful and the antivirus remained silent, then there is a possibility that it did not allow changes to be made to the file without any messages. In this case, simply disable it for a couple of minutes and reinstall the API package.

What happens during the update? With this package, we did not install a new DirectX, but simply updated the old one with the missing components and libraries. But if you just install a new set of APIs, then there will still be no compatibility with old games. There is also no need to use the automatic web installer - you can download it on the official Microsoft website. This installer first checks the version of DirectX on your computer and, if it detects the same or new version, cancels the installation with a warning message.

Therefore, if Direct X is 11 or 12, then the installation of the same versions with an updated package of libraries and components will not happen - the program itself will write about it. You need to either remove the API and install it again (with a full set of libraries), or simply update it manually using the archive suggested above. The last option is simpler and requires fewer steps.

Conclusion

Microsoft offers a standalone API package as a solution for running applications running DirectX 9. On the Microsoft forums, many users write that their problem was not solved by the new API package, but it helps most.

It is impossible to guarantee 100% that the methods proposed above will help, but it is worth using them in any case. This is the only way to run old applications or games on a new operating system and not resort to a radical method - reinstalling Windows 10 for the older “seven”. Although many users who are disappointed in the “ten” do just that.

Video instructions

We also invite you to watch a video that describes installing DirectX on Windows 10.

To answer the common question of how to install DirectX, you first need to understand what it is for. DirectX is a special set software applications Microsoft, which is used in the development of modern games and is necessary for their normal operation.

DirectX is, of course, very important for the smooth running of games on a PC. Without it, not a single game on Windows OS will simply launch. But before you frantically search for information on how to install DirectX, you should first find out whether you need to update this software at all. To do this, follow the instructions on how to find out which DirectX is installed below:

• From the Start menu, open the Run command prompt
• Type the command "dxdiag" without quotes - it will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, where it will show detailed information, including DirectX version.
• See what version of DirectX is installed. On at the moment latest version is DirectX 11, which is available on OSes starting from Windows Vista and higher. Contrary to popular belief, DirectX 12 has not yet been released, but should appear in the very next few days. Therefore, it makes no sense to look for where to download DirectX 12.

If you followed the instructions on how to check the version of installed DirectX above and saw that you do not have the latest version installed, or this software is missing altogether, then download and install DirectX. How to install DirectX is described in detail below.

If you are the owner of Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or Vista, then you will want to know how to install DirectX 11 as a separate file. Windows XP, unfortunately, does not support this version of the software. It is important to note that you will not be able to download and install DirectX 11 from the official Microsoft website as a separate file for one simple reason - new versions of Windows OS already come with the latest version of DirectX pre-installed. However, cases are different and you could very well delete this software accidentally or on purpose. To install again, do the following:

Important: we advise you not to download DirectX from third-party resources. All necessary information and files for the OS can be found on the official Microsoft website. There is no need to take risks, since many software archives contain a virus that will harm the OS.

For optimal performance Windows 7 and full involvement in the process of all the hardware capabilities of the computer requires installation and upgrade of Direct X software. For Windows 7, the latest version of this component is the 11th.

Despite the fact that the question of how to install Directx 11 on a computer with Windows 7 is usually asked by gamers, the instructions below will also be useful for users working in programs and editors that use the graphics power of a PC. This article also provides recommendations when difficulties arise when you cannot automatic update and Drectx is not installed.

What is this program and what is it for?

It ensures computer compatibility with a game or graphics program using a set of special structured libraries. To put it simply, the more modern the installed Directx version, the more detailed the image in gaming applications and the fewer glitches in graphics utilities.

How to find out which modification is already installed on your PC?

Before starting the installation procedure, you should find out the existing DirectX modification on your PC. For this purpose, it is necessary to perform the following sequential actions:

Note: The 11th modification is supported by Severka. If you try to install an unsupported, i.e. even more modern modification, for example, number 12, then the Direct X libraries will not work.

In this case, you will need to first uninstall the application, install a supported version and upgrade it manually.

Installation procedure

During installation and upgrade, DirectX requires that the PC be connected to the World Wide Web. The application downloads the required components from the official Microsoft resource.

The algorithm of action stages consists of the following steps:

What to do if your PC does not have access to the World Wide Web?

You only need to perform a few preliminary steps:

1. From another device that has access to the global network, download the “Distribution package”, for example, by logging into the Microsoft resource at: “http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 ";
2. Save the installer on any media and transfer it to the problematic PC;
3. Next, carry out steps 2 - 7 from the above instructions.

Main advantages of the program

The eleventh modification has the following advantages compared to earlier versions.

You won’t find a definite answer to where directx is located anywhere, since it contains dozens of files that are located in different places

If you have problems (the system indicates file errors), then the best option is to download dxwebsetup.

This installer will place all the necessary files in the desired folder, including directx 11.

Most directx elements in Windows 7, XP and Windows 8 are located in the system 32 folder.

They are usually needed for games, although they are used for video and audio.

There are all the necessary libraries, including the latest Direct X 11 and more. Even if you have Windows 7, this article will be a good help in troubleshooting problems in games.

The Everest program will help you get the most information about where directx is located on your computer.

How to remove directx

Direct X is firmly embedded in the system and it cannot be completely removed in the usual way (standard - programs and components).

To remove all DirectX components and folders, you need to use special software, for example the “directx uninstaller” utility.

This situation arises due to the fact that Direct X files in Windows 7 are located in different places.

If errors occur when playing games, then as an option you can delete the files using the above programs and install the libraries from scratch. Good luck.

With the development of technologies for creating animation for computer games And graphic editors There was a need for improved rendering of objects and visual effects. DirectX software is used to solve this problem. This is a kind of bridge between the video adapter, sound card and the software part of game graphics and editors, which allows you to improve the quality of images displayed on the monitor screen. Every version of Windows includes a set of DirectX files that optimize the graphics experience. Updates to DirectX versions may come with game applications. To use DirectX, you need to have some understanding of installing, updating, uninstalling, and reinstalling the program on Windows 10.

Do I need to install DirectX on Windows 10

DirectX 12 for Windows 10 is a set of files with a *.dll extension, consisting of software libraries necessary for improved display of visual effects and sound. Windows 10 comes with DirectX 12 built-in by default. This version does not require manual updating. All files are downloaded automatically when updates are received from the official Microsoft page on the Internet.

You can determine the DirectX version on your computer using the dxdiag command:

Even though Windows 10 comes with DirectX 12 pre-installed, the dxdiag dialog box may show an earlier version in some cases.

Problems can arise, as a rule, in two cases:

• the game the user is launching was written for an old version of DirectX, and new version does not contain required libraries;
• In the Diagnostic Tools the version of DirectX 11.2 is indicated. This means that:
  • the video adapter installed on the computer is outdated and does not support DirectX 12;
  • The video adapter drivers are outdated and require updating.

You can see which version the video adapter supports using the “Device Manager” console in the computer properties and the adapter manufacturer’s website. To do this, in the “Device Manager” console, find the “Video adapters” line, expand it and write down the name of your adapter. Then go to the manufacturer’s website and look at the version of DirectX for which the adapter is configured in the summary table. If version 11.2 is specified, then, accordingly, it will work with version 12, but can only use libraries of version 11.2.

Video: how to find out the DirectX version in Windows 10

How to install (update) DirectX on Windows 10

To install (update) the DirectX version you need to go to official page Microsoft and go to the required version operating system. Version 12 does not have a separate update package, and all updates are received in automatic mode via the Update Center.

So, to check for updates for system components, you need to:

Sometimes when starting a game, a warning appears stating that it cannot be launched due to the absence of a library. The library can be added from a required DirectX set of an earlier version.

In the web installer window, check the system requirements and read the installation instructions. Then download the executable library to your computer, run the executable file dxsetup.exe and then follow the installation instructions. Do not forget about unchecking those additional components offered during installation that you do not need. And also you shouldn't install search engine Bing, offered as a library add-on.

Where is DirectX installed?

After downloading and running the dxsetup.exe executable file, the folder with the library archive can be installed in any location specified by the user. By default, the directory will be unpacked to the path C:\Windows\System32. Before downloading the archive, it is recommended to create a folder under any name in the root of the disk. Download the archive there, unpack it, install DirectX in the selected location, and then delete the created folder.

What to do if DirectX is not installed

The application may not install if its version does not match the Windows OS version. It is impossible to install version 12 on Windows 7, as well as version 11 on Windows XP.

Table: Windows versions and corresponding DirectX versions

In addition, there may be other reasons why DirectX cannot be installed:

• The dxsetup.exe executable file may be infected with a virus. This often happens if the download was made from an unverified site. Therefore, the downloaded file must be immediately checked with an antivirus;
• The downloaded archive may not match the bit depth of your system. If you have a 32-bit Windows OS, the archive for a 64-bit OS will not be installed on your computer;
• Your computer's antivirus software may block the file already during the download process. You need to disable the antivirus and try to download the file again;
• no permission to install. IN context menu file, you must select to run as administrator or grant installation rights;
• The computer's RAM and cache memory are cluttered with all sorts of garbage. You need to clear the memory using special programs. These could be Wise Care 365, Glary Utilites, CCleaner and others. After clearing the memory, restart the computer and repeat the installation.

DirectX installation failed

During installation, an unexpected failure may occur and an error message window may appear.

If the DirectX installation fails, you can try several options to overcome the problem:

• download the executable file dxsetup.exe from another site and run it;
• install Windows OS in update mode, as there may be a malfunction of its components;
• run from command line on behalf of the administrator, run the chkdsk and sfc /scannow utilities and completely scan the hard drive;
• For more experienced users, a hint can be found in the DXError.log and DirectX.log files in Windows folder. If there is not enough knowledge in this area, then it is better to consult with a specialist, for example, online.

Video: Resolving an error when installing DirectX

How to reinstall DirectX

There are two ways to reinstall the application:

• Complete removal of the installed version and replacing it with a similar one. Used when windows with warnings about DirectX errors frequently drop out;
• updating the installed version. DirectX software is configured in such a way that when it is reinstalled, the missing dll files are added to the existing library package. If you need to add libraries from DirectX 9.0C to DirectX 12.0, they will simply be attached to the files of the installed version.

To perform the reinstallation correctly, you need to carry out a number of certain actions before performing it:

Uninstalling DirectX on Windows 10

Complete removal of the built-in DirectX application in Windows 10 cannot be done through the standard “Uninstall or change a program” function in the Control Panel.

To solve this issue, there are a large number of third-party programs that allow you to remove DirectX 12, completely clearing directories and registry branches from it. Examples of such programs are the utilities given below.

To correctly remove DirectX 12 from Windows 10, you can download and install one of them on the Internet:

• DirectX Happy Uninstall - the utility is distributed on a shareware basis. Is one of the most correct in work;
• DX Killer - the application is distributed free of charge, has a Russian-language interface;
• DirectX eradicator - can be launched from removable media without installation on the computer.

You can search on the Internet various programs for working with a DirectX 12 application in Windows 10. Each user has his own requirements, habits and certain priorities, which he, willingly or unwillingly, tries on software. Some people are more accustomed to working with English versions of programs, but for others this creates a great inconvenience. This must be approached based on its capabilities and user requirements for using the application software interface.