DirectX is one of the core technologies that make game and video programs run on Windows. This means that if directX is corrupted, then your computer is likely to experience some errors. You can try to restore your system to a state before the last update, or you can try to repair your DirectX files. See step 1 below to learn how.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Performing a System Restore
Step 1. Open System Restore
Performing a System Restore is the easiest way to remove DirectX updates, as there is no official way to remove DirectX. You must have a restore point before the DirectX update is installed, which is usually created during the installation process. Using System Restore will erase and revert ANY changes made since that restore point was created, so these restore points should be used as soon as you install DirectX updates.
- Windows 8 – Go to the Start screen and type "recovery". Select "Recovery" from the list of search results. This will open the Recovery window. From there, click on the “Open System Restore” link.
- Windows 7 and Vista – Click Start and type “restore” in the Search box. Select “System Restore” from the top of the list of search results.
- Windows XP – Click Start and then select All Programs → Accessories → System Tools. Click System Restore.
Step 2. Select your restore point
A list of available restore points will be displayed. Compare the dates to look for restore points created before DirectX was updated. Click “Scan for affected programs” to confirm that DirectX will be restored.
Remember, anything that was installed or updated between that point to the current time will be deleted. Any program that was installed and now uninstalled, will have to be reinstalled later
Step 3. Perform recovery
Once you have selected a restore point, wait for the restore to complete. The recovery process can take a long time. The computer will restart during the recovery process, then Windows will load with a message confirming that the recovery was successful.
Step 4. Check whether DirectX has been reverted to the old version or not
After Windows starts up again, open a Run window by pressing Windows key + R, type "dxdiag", and press Enter. This will open the DXDiag tool, which will check your system and report the installed version of DirectX.
- The DirectX version will be listed under System Information in the first tab.
- You must have some version of DirectX installed with Windows. Windows 7 and later must have DirectX 11.
Method 2 of 2: Repairing Current DirectX Files
Step 1. Run the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows key + R and typing "dxdiag". This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. This tool will show you a quick overview of your system. You can click on each tab to view information about display, sound, and input. The text box at the bottom of each tab will notify you if a specific system-related problem is detected.
Step 2. Download the DirectX installer from Microsoft (but not the file shown in the video above, it's a powerpoint presentation)
If you have trouble running the program and receive a DirectX error, your DirectX file may be corrupted or missing. The best way to fix this is to reinstall the latest version of DirectX. This installer can be obtained free of charge from Microsoft.
If you're having trouble, updating to the latest version can be more helpful than performing a deletion
Step 3. Run the installer
The installer will scan your system, then install the files needed to update your copy of DirectX to the latest version. Restart your computer when it's done and check if you receive the same error or not.
Step 4. Update your video card driver
Often times, updating your video card drivers will help fix DirectX errors for games and other programs that use video. To update your drivers, you'll need to determine what type of video card you have, then download the proper files from the manufacturer.
- To find your video card information, open a Run dialog (Windows key + R) and enter "dxdiag". Click the Display tab, and note Chip Type and Manufacturer from the Device section.
- Visit the manufacturer's website. This is usually NVidia or AMD. Find your Chip Type on the site and download the latest driver file.
- Run the driver installer. Your old video card files will be overwritten with the latest version. Your screen may flicker during the pairing process.
Step 5. Reinstall your Windows
If everything you're doing doesn't seem to fix the problem, it might be time to reinstall Windows. This will replace all DirectX files with the default files from your Windows installation. Reinstalling Windows can take an hour or more, not counting the time it takes to back up and restore your files and reinstall your programs. Follow one of the following guides for the version of Windows you are using:
- Install Windows 7.
- Install Windows 8.
- Install Windows XP.
- Install Windows Vista.
