The DirectDraw option or the Direct3D option is unavailable when you start Microsoft games for Windows (191660)

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order that they appear in.

Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Method 1: Configure Hardware Acceleration to use the Full setting

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Display.
   
   If you do not see Display, click Switch to Classic View.
3. Click the Settings tab, and then click Advanced.
4. On the Performance or on the Troubleshooting tab, move the Hardware Acceleration slider all the way to the right (the Full position).
5. Click OK, and then click Close.
6. If you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.

If your computer meets the minimum system requirements, use the following methods to work around this issue.

Method 2: Enable DirectDraw or Direct3D

To enable DirectDraw or Direct3D, run the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (Dxdiag.exe). To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the Display tab, under DirectX Features, verify that DirectDraw Acceleration and Direct3D Acceleration are selected.
   
   If either of these lines shows a Disabled status, click Enable for that line.
3. If multiple video adapters are installed in your computer, repeat steps 3 and 4 for each Display tab in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Click the Play button to view this streaming media demonstration.

http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/ShowMeHow/021604_2.asx

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 3: Download and install the latest version of DirectX End-User Runtimes Web Installer

To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note You may receive the following error message during installation: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 4: Update your video driver

To see whether applicable driver updates are available, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site: For information about how to contact the video hardware manufacturer, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information. If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 5: Restart the computer by using a clean boot procedure

When you start Microsoft Windows, typically there are several programs that start automatically and run in the background that may interfere with the game. These programs may include antivirus and system utility programs. When you perform a clean boot procedure, you prevent these programs from starting automatically.

You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure.

To restart the computer by using a clean boot procedure, follow these steps if you are using Microsoft Windows XP.

Note You may experience a temporary loss of some services functionality when you follow these steps. Restoring the settings restores the functionality. But the original error message or behavior may return.

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.
3. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
   • Process SYSTEM.INI File
   • Process WIN.INI File
   • Load Startup Items
4. On the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
5. Click OK, and then click Restart.

Click Play to view this streaming media demonstration.

http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/ShowMeHow/SMH012304.asx

http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/ShowMeHow/SMH012304_2.asx

For more information or to view steps for other operating systems, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 6: Disable NetMeeting's Remote Desktop Sharing and then close NetMeeting

Microsoft Windows NetMeeting disables Direct3D when Remote Desktop Sharing is enabled. To disable NetMeeting's Remote Desktop Sharing feature, follow these steps:

1. Start NetMeeting.
2. On the Tools menu, click Remote Desktop Sharing.
3. Click to clear the Enable Remote Desktop Sharing on this computer check box.
4. Click OK.
5. Close NetMeeting.

If the issue continues to occur, go to the next method.

Method 7: Disable the Enable Write Combining feature in Microsoft Windows XP

To disable the Enable Write Combining feature, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Display.
2. On the Settings tab, click Advanced, and then click the Troubleshoot tab.
3. Click to clear the Enable Write Combining check box.
4. Click OK, and then click OK again.
5. If the issue is not resolved, repeat steps 1 through 4, but in step 4 click to select the Enable Write Combining check box.

Start the game. If these steps were not successful, go to the next method.

Method 8: Create a new user account in Windows XP

To create a user account on a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type compmgmt.msc, and then click OK.
2. Expand Local Users and Groups, right-click Users, and then click New User.
3. In the User name field, type UserName.
4. In the Password field and in the Confirm password field, type UserPassword, and then click Create.
   
   Important Passwords are case-sensitive. For example, MyPassword and mypassword are treated as two different passwords.
5. Double-click the newly created user account, click the Member Of tab, click Add to add the user to a proper group, and then click OK.
   
   Note Some games require an account in the Administrators group to run.