[Rochelle13317]

I've been having problems since i downloaded directx 9.0c and was told that the only way to fix this was to reinstall windows. I've tried but everytime it trys to start it stops claiming it can't locate a hardrive. Seeing as my computer is functional without reinstalling my hardrive should be there. What can i do to fix this? directX is driving me CRAZY!!!

[possumbarnes]

You say your computer is functional without reinstalling,
try this:
Go to: http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...load-2588.html

Pick a download mirror and download and run DirectX Eradicator. I've never used it before but from what I can find on this program it fully removes DirectX core files from Windows. So, after you remove 9.0c, I'd make sure your computer is running properly to verify it was DirectX that was causing the issue. Then, I recommend reinstalling it because it sounds like you had a bad install and everything under the sun seems to use DirectX.
Hope this helps.

[panicrooster]

Not sure what you are doing with the XP install to get that message but weird. What's more important is what problems are you having, or think you are having, with DirectX? You haven't mentioned what the root problem is and that would be more useful in solving your problem. I've installed DirectX on many, many pc's and reinstalled and overinstalled, maybe even underinstalled and never had a problem. Some problems arise from trying to play games that your pc hardware can't handle usually and not the DirectX at all, and often the incorrect drivers for your graphics, whether onboard or pci-e. Give details on exactly what it's doing without any guessing and what your hardware setup is wouldn't hurt.

[Rochelle13317]

Yes i know that directx is the problem as i have browsed this site before. i updated my directX to 9.0c and i don't have graphics cards that are compatible with that update. so everything that uses directX messes up. I've tried uninstall programs and i'm not willing ot buy new hardware as i'd rather save for a laptop for college. so seemingly my only other option was to reinstall windows xp to turn back the directX

i'd really like help on making the install work right.

[panicrooster]

Well, pretty much every card will work with DirectX9 but oddly enough your pc won't let you install a version of DirectX beyond your hardware capabilities. Like you can't install DirectX10 unless you have 1)Vista and 2)a graphics card that is DirextX10 compatible. If you simply want to reinstall and have decided it's beyond repair then it's best to boot from the XP disk if you are having problems doing so while XP is running. reboot pc with the XP disk in the drive and you should see "hit any key to boot from disk". If not, then your boot order is wrong in bios or the disk isn't a bootable copy of XP or your cd drive has problems. Hope you see that message. Follow the instructions it gives after that and pick the correct partition, usually the one that's the biggest. Good luck with it.

[possumbarnes]

Panicrooster is right about posting more information. It would be helpful to know exactly what the problem is. I've worked on hundreds of computers and I've never had an issue with DirectX causing any issues either.

Assuming that you KNOW it is DirectX 9.0c, uninstall it using the DirectX Eradicator program. Then, make sure the problem is gone. Then, reinstall it from a different source. Unless you have a very old (like over 10 years old) video card, it should be compatible with 9.0c. Use a different source because whatever installed 9.0c on your system could possibly have a corrupt installer.

Just out of curiousity, what OS are you running? If you're running XP, have you tried using System Restore?

[mt2002]

I've tried but everytime it trys to start it stops claiming it can't locate a hardrive. Seeing as my computer is functional without reinstalling my hardrive should be there.

Sometimes if Windows does not see your hard drive it may require an additional driver only available on an OEM CD or downloaded from the internet. The only way to be sure is if we have your system model type.

In any case, I would try to see if you can solve the problem with DirectX before attempting a re-install.

*edit:

You can also try to disable native sata support from the Bios to resolve the "cannot locate hard drive" error.

[lee85boro]

when you remove a partition on a hard drive you also remove the drive letter on that partition. if you delete a partition under windows xp the drive also need formatting so a drive letter can be assigned. without it windows does not know where to put itself. have you deleted any partitions on the drive when reinstalling windows xp?

[edit]

oh try this. go to start menu > control panel > Administrative Tools > computer management > disk management > see if all your drives are there and have a letter and assign a drive letter to the one that doesn't (assuming that its there)

Right click > change drive letter and paths > change and the the drive letter you want

[Rochelle13317]

Yes i do know it's directx 9.0c that is causing the problem. the directx eradicator that was suggested did not work. i know that my computer is roughly 3-4 years old but the hardware could be older as my mother had it built by a co-worker who is thier computer technician. everytime i try to play sims it says that directx can't find and compatible graphics cards so i know that my graphics card is the problem. I have also tried windows restore but discovered that my dates only go back to june, AFTER i had installed the directx 9.0c form the internet. As with the information for my system reinstall i need this in easier terms as i am a novice. thank you all for your help

[Rochelle13317]

I have done the last option with giving letters to the dusk drives and the only drive that shows up is my C: drive. Should any other drives be there? such as my cd rom drive?

[Rich-M]

Sounds like you have one of those series pc's that needs a sata driver installed during install ( press F6 when asked to and insert driver) but why not boot into safe mode and then uninstall Direct x then reboot.

[possumbarnes]

OK. Let's start over. Just to find out what's going on with your reinstall. Boot up on your Windows CD. You should get a blue screen, and along the bottom, you'll see Windows loading all the drivers and stuff it needs before beginning its installation. After that is complete, it should come up to a blue screen giving you 3 options: (1)Install Windows, (2)Repair Windows installation, and (3)Quit. Select a new installation, which should be the first option. The next thing you see will be the EULA (I think). Press F8 to accept it. Then you should see a blue screen showing you what partitions are available to install Windows on.

What partitions are listed here?

ALSO......

Rich-M has a good point. If you don't know if you have a SATA drive, take your side cover off and look at the cables connected to it.
An IDE drive will have a normal power cable (has a red, yellow, and 2 black wires sticking out of it) and an IDE ribbon cable (connects to drive with a 2.25 inch wide connector).
A SATA drive could have either a normal power cable or a SATA power connector (a flat black 1 inch wide connector). Instead of the 2.25 inch connector an IDE drive has, a SATA drive has a narrow data connector that looks just like the flat black power connector, but is only half as wide as the power connector.
If you have an IDE drive, you do NOT have the problem Rich-M thinks you do.
If you have a SATA drive, you may need to manually install the drivers before Windows will see the drive. You'll need to put the drivers on a floppy disk. Press F6 during the first Windows setup screen when it tells you to at the bottom of the screen. Once you load your SATA driver, Windows should see your drive.

[panicrooster]

Rochelle, you keep saying it's the DirectX that's the problem but then finally you admit that your graphics card is the problem and the system is telling you so. Also you said up top that your graphics cards are old and can't handle DX9, although even old one's do. The problem is not DirectX, it's your card. Scratch everything said on this post.. buy a new card. You can't play modern games without a modern card, and they are very cheap these days. Go get a 8600gt for $60 and it will play all games and compatible with DirectX10 if you switch to Vista.

[possumbarnes]

I missed the post about Sims saying its the graphics card.
I agree. Rochelle, you need a new graphics card.

[Rochelle13317]

i know my graphics card is old but i could do everyhting i can't do now BEFORE i updated directx 9.0c. Therefore, directx 9.0c is causing a problem because it is too advanced for my sytem. I feel uncomfortable opening up my computer so i will ask my friend to do it next time he comes over as he knows more about computers than me, and thank you for that hint because it may work i'm just not willing ot test it myself. Either way, I cannot uninstall directx, and i can't afford a new graphics card. Reinstalling windows is my option.