DirectX error

[tensim]

Howdy all, hope you're having a nice lazy Sunday

I'm trying to install and play C and C 3 on my new PC; it's installed fine, but when I go to run it, I get a popup with a DirectX Error as follows:

"Please make sure you have DirectX 9.0 or higher installed. Also verify that your video card meets the minimum requirements and that you do not have hardware acceleration disabled in the Display Control panel"

Vista is already DirectX 10.0 right? My video card is a HD 4870, so no problems there. I've checked the ATi Catalyst Control Center and I can't see anywhere that mentions 'Hardware Acceleration' (I haven't changed any settings in the there as yet, so should all be at whatever the default is?)

Any ideas on what I need to change to get up and running?

thanks guys, appreciate your time as always

[Ciber]

Try updating your video card drivers: http://www.tweakguides.com/ATICAT_1.html Also, try patching the game as well.

[tensim]

Hi Ciber. thanks for replying

Silly question (probably!) but what do you mean by 'patching the game'?

Also, where do I check that I have the latest video card drivers? In the Catalyst Control Center?

cheers

[stevie lee]

reinstall directx.. its not part of windows, so you need to install it separately..

http://www.gamesforwindows.com/en-US...rectX10-a.aspx

as for hardware acceleration.. right click desktop > properties > settings > advanced > troubleshoot...
(might be different on vista, this is the XP location)

__
'patching' - games companies release them now and again to fix in-game errors and bugs, and also to optimize the game so it runs more smoothly..

we need to know which game you have first though.. theres C&C3 : kanes wrath and C&C3: tiberium wars..

you need to install the correct one, theres different patches for both of them..

[Ciber]

Also, where do I check that I have the latest video card drivers? In the Catalyst Control Center?

Yours will likely be out of date, so just get the latest one. New ones are out every month.

[tensim]

It's C & C 3, Tiberium Wars (Kane Edition)...

I've made sure I have the latest DirectX (just tried to reinstall it again and it advised that there's already a newer or equivalant version on the PC, so it exited the install.

I'm downloading the C3EP1_patch101 from http://www.commandandconquer.com/com...s/default.aspx

not sure if this'll fix whatever the problem is, we'll see

[tensim]

With the video card drivers, I've gone onto ATi's site and there doesn't seem to be a new 4870 driver available, so I'm assuming I have the latest?

[Ciber]

Never assume anything. When did you last install video card drivers?

Go here: http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html and get the right one for your hardware/ operating system. That will be the latest one. Read this excellent guide to installing ATI drivers: http://www.tweakguides.com/ATICAT_3.html

[stevie lee]

yup - thats the latest game patch...

as for catalyst drivers.. 8.6 is the latest version..

i use the amd/ati website to check what the latest version is.. mainly from this section - http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html

what i do:-

scroll to the bottom of the page to see what the current version is.. 8.6 at the moment. if the version has changed then i fill out selection form thing on the page (windows version, radeon, model number) then click GO.. download the catalyst software suite and install that..

on that page theres 'release notes' to find out what the new driver does.. and 'installation instruction' on how to install it..
____

i just remember what the last version i installed was, so my visit to the ati website is usually done in 5 seconds or less.. there is a place in 'catalyst control centre' to check what the currently installed version is, but i'm not sure where.. i think its under 'information centre' on the advanced catalyst view...

[tensim]

oka-li-dokaly... I've downloaded and installed what I think is the latest driver (the Radeon 4800 series hotfix for windows vista), all seems fine on that front.

When I try to run the Patch for C & C, I get an error asking me to 'Please install at least one language pack' and then '***FATAL*** String manager failed to initialized properly'

What's it asking for with the 'language pack'?

cheers

[Ciber]

I'd try uninstalling the game, restart the pc and then install it again.

[tensim]

cool... that's kinda what I was thinking will let you know how I go in a few minutes!

cheers

[tensim]

Still no joy

Away from my home PC now, had to come into work for a couple of hours, yay...

Any ideas I can try when I get back home later this evening?

thanks

PS: could this be in some way related to the fact I'm using Vista 64?

[Ciber]

Shouldn't be to do with vista 64. I don't know though as I've little experience with vista.

[TAKTAK]

Hmmm

try running it at a lower resolution (i.e. drop your display resolution down to hardly anything and then try opening the game) (no idea why, it just popped in my head )

it does seem that EA are releasing unfinished games again as lots of people seem to be having similar problems

[tensim]

I've had this copy of C & C 3 since last year (been running it fine on my laptop, Windows XP OS)...

Hope I can get this sorted out, missing my daily C&C skirmish fix!

Anybody running C&C 3, Tiberium Wars on Vista Home Premium 64?

cheers