Confused which DirectX upgrade really needed

[Spirit of Bastet]

According to the CotN: Enhanced Edition Patch (http://www.immortalcities.com/cotn/downloads/patch.php) page, need to have...
Note: Children of the Nile: Enhanced Edition requires a DirectX 9.0c redistributable from April 2006 or later.
...however, I have applied the v1.3 patch to my installation of CotN, and am now getting the "cannot find d3dx9_33.dll" error, even though I have the DirectX August 2006 redistributable version currently installed!??

Have re-ran directx_aug2006_redist.exe, even checked the C:\WINDOWS\DirectX.log file to ensure it worked ok (as expected just concluded no files changed). As mentioned in the Known issues in the Enhanced Edition (http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17004) thread, could upgrade to the June 2008 version of DX, but am reluctant as Microsoft have a long history of so-called updates actually breaking more things than fixing (and all my other programs are working perfectly as is).

Am left wondering if the stated requirement of needing "April 2006 or later" version of DX is correct? Perhaps it does need to be a later version?

:confused:

[Davus Antonius]

Read this post. Gives a download link for the latest DirectX 9.0C.

http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=193788

Edit: Err... just realized that your post mentions the above topic. But do follow that link in there to download the latest version of DirectX 9.0c (June 2008). That does include the missing dll file that the enhanced version is looking for.

[Spirit of Bastet]

Edit: Err... just realized that your post mentions the above topic. But do follow that link in there to download the latest version of DirectX 9.0c (June 2008). That does include the missing dll file that the enhanced version is looking for.
hehe, was wondering how long it would take for you to see that. :p

As mentioned, am reluctant to do the "big leap" upgrade since comes with the risk of breaking more things than fixing, and currently all my other programs are working perfectly right at the moment (if it ain't broke....). The point I was drawing attention to is that the patch page says need "April 2006 or later", but CotN now fails after patching even though I have a August 2006 release of DX installed.

That's the confusing part.

[Keith]

Get the latest version of DX9.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=822640AB-0983-4C41-9C70-632F6F42C557&displaylang=en

It has the file that you are getting the error message about.

DX9 is updated periodically by Microsoft so it doesn't hurt to keep that updated from time to time.

[Spirit of Bastet]

<sigh> I will say this once again...

The point I am trying to make here is that the patch page says need "April 2006 or later", but CotN now fails after patching even though I have a August 2006 release of DX installed.

[Keith]

Yes, I understand that, but to avoid confusion for other readers, I'm just saying they should just update to the latest DirectX version.

[Spirit of Bastet]

Yes, I understand that, but to avoid confusion for other readers, I'm just saying they should just update to the latest DirectX version.
However, this does not address the question about why the patch page says need only have April 2006 or later of DX installed, when I have August 2006 install and it's failing. ie, I was trying to draw attention to the fact that this "April 2006 or later" statement might not be correct.

[Khanon]

Just out of curiosity, why would you purposely install the oldest possible DX9 version that they list instead of just the newest one...?

[Spirit of Bastet]

Not so much a case of going out of my way to install an older version, but rather; is the version that is already installed. The patch page says need only April 2006 or later, I have August 2006 (so that qualifies as "later"). It's not working, so have questioned if the "need April 2006 or later" statement is correct.

Why not updating, have already covered that above, the point of this thread, is about why say "need April 2006 or later", when have evidence that it is an incorrect statement, ie, was intending to get feedback to/from TM to perhaps sort out what is the correct "oldest" version of DX. That seems to have been largely lost because ppl are just jumping straight to the "install latest" reply without fully reading the content of message.

:(

[vic_4]

A possibility is that video drivers are different from the ones of 2006 and are optimized for newer Dx, so with older create problems in COTN.

[Pontius Pilatus]

That doesn't apply here. He gets the d3dx9_33.dll error. So a dxfile is missing, not a hardware drivers issue. I think he has a valid point here.

[Pontius Pilatus]

I think it doesn't matter what version you have of DirectX prior to installing Cotn 1.3. Today I reinstalled it and had to do the DXupdate again to make it work. Bwwrrrrr. Let's await another update, 1.3 stinks.

[tomnobles]

I had the same problem with the missing d3dx9_33.dll after installing the patch. Just installed DirectX again and no futher problems. Just curious, do you have US or UK version of program?

[Pontius Pilatus]

I don't think that matters to the poster of this thread. He just wants to know why his directx was not compatible, though the info told his was a valid version and should work without an update to the last available.

[tomnobles]

So I can't be curious? I think I'll let the poster decide if he wants to answer!

[Will Jennings]

However, this does not address the question about why the patch page says need only have April 2006 or later of DX installed, when I have August 2006 install and it's failing. ie, I was trying to draw attention to the fact that this "April 2006 or later" statement might not be correct.

Thanks for pointing this out; it's a typo. Should say April 2007. I'll ask Reed to update the page.

[Will Jennings]

I think it doesn't matter what version you have of DirectX prior to installing Cotn 1.3. Today I reinstalled it and had to do the DXupdate again to make it work. Bwwrrrrr. Let's await another update, 1.3 stinks.

I'm not sure what might have happened in this case, but I can be certain that patching doesn't remove any DirectX-related files.

[Spirit of Bastet]

However, this does not address the question about why the patch page says need only have April 2006 or later of DX installed, when I have August 2006 install and it's failing. ie, I was trying to draw attention to the fact that this "April 2006 or later" statement might not be correct.Thanks for pointing this out; it's a typo. Should say April 2007. I'll ask Reed to update the page.
Excellent, so relieved you were able to get to the bottom of this Will, and pleased that I was able to help.

:)

[Spirit of Bastet]

I had the same problem with the missing d3dx9_33.dll after installing the patch. Just installed DirectX again and no futher problems. Just curious, do you have US or UK version of program?
I have a v1.0 US version of CotN, patched to v1.2, and then to v1.3. As has just been pointed out (see posting above), v1.3 needs a version of DirectX dated April 2007 or later, so am going to need to update my DX (and would assume that was going to be the case whether I had the UK or US version). So, like you, once update to latest DX, expect will have same result (ie, no more missing DLLs).

:)

[Spirit of Bastet]

I have a v1.0 US version of CotN, patched to v1.2, and then to v1.3. As has just been pointed out (see posting above), v1.3 needs a version of DirectX dated April 2007 or later, so am going to need to update my DX (and would assume that was going to be the case whether I had the UK or US version). So, like you, once update to latest DX, expect will have same result (ie, no more missing DLLs).
Ok, for anyone watching this topic, thought I should post a final update:

Being the cautious cat that I am, decided to do a complete disk image backup first (as said before, have had grief from Microsoft's "updates" in the past, WinXP SP2 comes readily to mind). Some may consider this a tad extreme, but rather be safe than sorry. :p

Then went ahead and install the June 2008 DirectX update, and then proceeded to test all the DX-using applications on this system that has CotN installed on it, and am happy to report everything is working, no dramas, problems or issues (or missing DLLs, yay!!). :eek:

CotN is now running happily and gotta say, am loving Brickyards!! :D

[Will Jennings]

CotN is now running happily and gotta say, am loving Brickyards!! :D

Woohoo! Thanks for checking back in, and I'm glad to hear you're in the game and having fun!

[MarcusMaximus]

Saw patch3, went "woo-hoo!"

:D

Grumbled over 55 Mb download.

:confused:

Downloaded, installed & the world went KA-Blooie!

:mad:

Tried to revert, everything is still KA-Blooied away.

:eek:

NOW, I need a 75 Mb download!

:mad:

Someone should remember that there are folks still struggling in the 2003 dial-up world out here.

:(

[Spirit of Bastet]

Someone should remember that there are folks still struggling in the 2003 dial-up world out here.
Unfortunately, as our games get more graphic-intensive, more CPU-hungry, and generally more everything, so too will the patches grow in file size. Many countries do not have the ready access to inexpensive broadband, so certainly understand where's your comments are coming from (had to do the same downloads as you, consumed a little over 1% of my monthly quota). Just a matter of having to grit your teeth and setup an overnight download; hopefully you'll find it worth the effort. :)

[Will Jennings]

Could you say more about your ka-blooie, Marcus (an error message, if there is one)? I might be able to help.

Downloaded, installed & the world went KA-Blooie!

[MarcusMaximus]

I have since resolved the issue by downloading and loading the "current" version of DirectX.

:D

While starting CotN after loading patch 3, the "missing dll" message popped up. Once I totally reverted (ultimately, remove, clean & reinstall, though I also tried repair & revert) but prior to the new DX, launching the game ultimately caused a "send note to Microsoft..." dialogue, but I don't recall the exact message. I also had the task manager open for some reason. :eek:

[Will Jennings]

Good to hear that fixed things, and thanks for checking back in!