Evil PC of Hate

[Nevin]

For some reason my computer has decided to stop running games. Not just some games but seemingly all of them, which lock up on startup and crach the damn thing.

Any thoughts as to what it could be? Motherboard, graphics card, hard disk? Everything else works as normal.

[jay-aim]

tut tut

may be it's grown up!!!!!

Reboot
press control+alt+del to make sure now't that shouldn't is running
Start 1 game (preferably the one that requires the least memory, etc..)

[Nevin]

Hmm. had a thought. What's the command for getting into the bit where you edit what opens on startup. Something like "msconfig"?

[simpo two]

Wild guess - something to do with DirectX?

[puggit]

simpo two said:

Wild guess - something to do with DirectX?

Just what I was going to post

[Nevin]

Hmm, interesting. What makes you think that? Any ideas on how to sort it? Presumably by reinstalling Direct X?

[warmfuzzies]

Not neccesarily, there should be a direct X folder on the PC and /or a Direct X diagnostic tool that should assist...
If on XP go to control panel, and the direct X look for the diag option and check it. If on another O/S the diag tool exists in the Direct X folder normally on the C: drive.

Kevin

[Nevin]

Cheers, all most helpful. Will check out these things later tonight.

[malman]

start -> run -> type "dxdiag" hit return

[Nevin]

malman said:

start -> run -> type "dxdiag" hit return

Yeah, its definitely Direct X. Got into the diagnostic thing and the PC crashed instantly. Bstardo.

[arcturus]

Try updating to, or reinstalling, DirectX 9b from the MS website.

www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.aspx

>> Edited by arcturus on Monday 12th April 20:57

[simpo two]

As Dilbert says 'Excuse me while I hug myself and purr'.

[malman]

Arrrrghhh noo not directx. Your dooomed yourrrr aalll doooomed I tell ya.

It can be a bit of a pain in the arse to fix. Try the re-install of the latest version 9.0b I think, and hope you are lucky and that it works