Install Directx 8.1 on Windows 8 Pro

[Jonj1611]

Hi,

Well I got an old game recently, Starfleet Command 3, installed ok but went to run and it asks for Directx 8.1. Ok, no probs, downloaded the 8.1 installer and it says, you already have the latest version installed so won't actually install anything.

So I am kinda stuck, even in compatibility mode I cannot get it to install, any ideas?

[Bluecube]

If you have the latest DirectX then there's no way to revert especially to a version as old as 8.1.

[Jonj1611]

Indeed so it seems, Directx 11 supports all the way back to 9.1 but seems that games that run with 8.1 just won't work with Windows 8

[stilkun]

Have you downloaded Directx 9.0c patch and installed it?

There is speculation that the latest beta patch for Starfleet 3 fixed the issue with directx? Maybe disabling the visual theme from the game properties should enable it to run?

Edit: Right click and select Run as administrator if you have not done this as Windows 8 does not run program in administrator mode like Windows 7 does when you turn of UAC.