Tutor: Error Message: Unable to Initialize Direct Draw (178792)

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the troubleshooting sections below. After you complete the steps in each section, test My Personal Tutor: Preschool Workshop to determine if the issue is resolved.

NOTE: Incorrect or mismatched versions of the DirectDraw .dll files is the most common cause of this error message. Try the "Remove and Then Reinstall the DirectDraw .dll Files" troubleshooting section first; if it does not resolve the issue, proceed to the troubleshooting sections later in this article.

Remove and Then Reinstall the DirectDraw .dll Files

To remove and reinstall the DirectDraw .dll files, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
2. In the Named box, type ddraw.dll, ddraw16.dll, ddhelp.exe, and then press ENTER.
3. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
4. Press the DELETE key. If you are prompted to confirm the file deletion, click Yes.
5. Restart your computer, and then reinstall My Personal Tutor: Preschool Workshop.

Check Your Windows 95 Display Settings

Change your display resolution to 640 x 480 and your color display setting to 256 colors. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Display.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. In the Color Palette box, click 256 Color.
5. Move the Desktop Area slider all the way to the left. ("640 x 480 pixels" is displayed under the slider.)
6. Click OK.
7. Click Yes if you are prompted to restart your computer. If your settings did not change, you do not need to restart your computer.

Reduce the Graphics Hardware Acceleration

To reduce the graphics hardware acceleration, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click System.
3. Click the Performance tab, and then click Graphics.
4. Move the Hardware Acceleration slider until it is one notch to the right of None (the Basic acceleration setting).
5. Click OK, and then click OK.
6. Click Yes to restart the computer.

Install the VGA Video Driver and Then Install Your Original Video Driver

To install the standard VGA video driver, and then install your original video driver, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Display.
3. Click the Settings tab, and then click Change Display Type.
   
   NOTE: If you are using Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2), click Advanced Properties.
4. Click Change next to the Adapter Type box.
   
   NOTE: If you are using OSR2, click Change on the Adapter tab.
5. Click Show All Devices.
6. In the Manufacturers box, click Standard Display Types.
7. In the Models box, click Standard Display Adapter (VGA), and then click OK.
8. Click Close, and then click Close.
9. Click Yes to restart the computer.
10. When Windows 95 starts, reinstall your original video driver from the CD-ROM or floppy disk provided by your computer manufacturer, or contact your video adapter manufacturer to obtain the latest video driver available for your video adapter.
    
    For additional information about how to install a video driver in Windows 95, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    131806 Windows 95/98: How to Install or Change a Display Driver