Topic: DX9 update

[Rod ONeal]

I don't usually post M$ updates, but I found this a few days ago and installed it. There was  about a 10% improvement on 3DMark 06 after installing it on my machine! Might not be the same for everyone. I'm using an ATI 3870 which seems to suffer from ATI's typically weak drivers. (They usually get it sorted after a while lol)  Didn't get an automatic update prompt for it? So, I thought that I'd post it just in case others haven't heard abouit it either.

Quick Details
File Name:   dxwebsetup.exe
Version:   9.22.1284
Date Published:   3/13/2008
Language:   English
Download Size:   10 KB - 218.0 MB*

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2da43d38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&DisplayLang=en

[Javora]

Nice find.  I'm a little surprised this wasn't included in the automatic updates.

[Sirgod]

Exactly Javora.

Thanks for the note here.

Stephen

[Bonk]

10 KB - 218.0 MB*

Don't you just love network installers? They are useless on dialup, very few have resume capability.

218MB!! Holy cow! This sounds like dx10 backports.

So I take it we are at Directx 9d now? Is there an offline installer anywhere? (i.e. one that works for dialup users)

I take it that version 9.22.1284 is the version of the dxwebsetup.exe and not the actual directx install? My current directx 9.0c install reports itself as 4.09.0000.0904.

3/13/2008, publish date huh?  Let me take a look and see if there is a newer directx version or not....

I wish they would just post the actual installer. The end is near for MS if this kind of thing keeps up.

well, well, look at the related resouirces link on that page for "Latest DirectX Redist" - it gives a "We’re sorry, but we were unable to service your request." So I guess that's it for directx? (Don't tell me i need to enable javascript and activex to download a file? I like wget thanks, but it only works for real http links.)

Yup, looks like that page will not load without javascript. (arseholes )

It seems there is a new directx distribution. (directx_mar2008_redist.exe) But its still 9.0c? THis installer version is 9.22.1284 as well, I wonder what the resulting verison of directx would be?

I'm digging for a real http link, one that works for normal web connections without javascript.

Ah here we go, a direct http link to an actual file (offline installer) with no script in between and on a server that supports resume! (YAY!):
http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/4/c/64c3d3d6-c5da-47eb-9db4-86e45b9f579e/directx_mar2008_redist.exe

It seems to me that directx used to be about a 30MB download? This one is 69.5MB, which strongly suggests directx 10 content.
(yup: directx_9c_redist.exe - 9.0c - 8/4/2004 - 33.5 MB)

That's better, and encouraging, I guess the end of MS is not so near, they still post actual file links (though you have to dig for em). Well they didn't actually post that link, and IE wont give it to you, but if you start the scripted download in firefox you can then get the actual donload url from the firefox downloads dialog, then stop the download and use the direct link with wget, stardownloader or whatever...

[Dracho]

My desktop download was 3 meg and my laptop 10 meg.  I'd wager the 218 is if you were on Directx 8.

[Centurus]

My desktop download in the end was 2.6 megs in size.

I think the longer between systemwide updates, the larger that download is gonna be.

[Bonk]

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm still going to go with the 69.5MB offline installer, and download it in pieces with stardownloader, as I just do not want to risk using a web installer for something as critical as directx. Should my dial-up connection drop mid-install who knows what would happen. Good chance it would competely bork my 7 year old XP install.

[Bonk]

Installed it this morning, sort of feels like the most improvement is in sound. Serious Sam 2 seems a litte snappier overall. It still reports itself as 9.0c (4.09.0000.09040). So far, so good!

[Sirgod]

I did mine last night, IT came in at 5.2 MB. Haven't really noticed anything.

Did you all notice the Silverlight thing at the top of the page? Is Microsoft getting into the streaming buisness, een more so or something?

Stephen

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

Just installed it.. came out to 7.8MB for me.

Noticed just a few slight improvements overall in my games

[Pestalence_XC]

The package has been out since March 6, 2008, it contains DirectX 9.0c version LE as well as DirectX 10.1 and is designed for XPSP 3 and Vista SP 1..

the reason it is not in the automatic updates is because it is supposedly included in the Vista Sp1 and XP SP 3 packages already.. so if you have the service package installed, you should already have the new DX.. but it never hurts to update again.. also I would run it after the service package install just to be on the safe side, to make sure all components installed correctly.

[Javora]

Has WinXP service pack 3 been finalized yet?  I thought it was still in development, if SP3 hasn't been finalized yet then I don't want to install it.  I'll wait until SP3 is finished.

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

SP3 hasn't been finalized yet.

[Centurus]

The buzz for the most part about SP3 is that it'll be released as early as April, which is this month, with a late date of sometime around July.  Knowing Microsoft, I won't be surprised if it doesn't come out till August or even November.

Either way, when it comes out, I'm gonna slipstream it into my XP install discs.

[Bonk]

DO NOT APPLY THIS UPDATE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - IT MAY INTERFERE WITH THE SFC DIRECTORY SERVERS!!!

[Centurus]

DO NOT APPLY THIS UPDATE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - IT MAY INTERFERE WITH THE SFC DIRECTORY SERVERS!!!

*looks at Bonk's warning and then raises an eyebrow*

Hmmm............too late.

*shrugs, then grabs a shotgun*

What direction should I start walking in?

[Bonk]

it contains DirectX 9.0c version LE

What does LE stand for? Have you installed it and can you still see the directory servers?

[Bonk]

DO NOT APPLY THIS UPDATE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - IT MAY INTERFERE WITH THE SFC DIRECTORY SERVERS!!!

*looks at Bonk's warning and then raises an eyebrow*

Hmmm............too late.

*shrugs, then grabs a shotgun*

What direction should I start walking in?

Try logging in to see wht you get, this is a good opportunity to test.

If this has borked the Dyna on us, I will find a solution one way or another, if it means manually overwriting dlls from a boot CD or command prompt.

If this did break it and I can't fix it, then you can shoot me.

[Centurus]

DO NOT APPLY THIS UPDATE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - IT MAY INTERFERE WITH THE SFC DIRECTORY SERVERS!!!

*looks at Bonk's warning and then raises an eyebrow*

Hmmm............too late.

*shrugs, then grabs a shotgun*

What direction should I start walking in?

Try logging in to see wht you get, this is a good opportunity to test.

If this has borked the Dyna on us, I will find a solution one way or another, if it means manually overwriting dlls from a boot CD or command prompt.

If this did break it and I can't fix it, then you can shoot me.

I'll let you know in a few days.  I gotta install SFC3.  Haven't flown in a very long time.

And I can't shoot you.  I need you around. 

[Centurus]

Ok, managed to install SFC3.  My mom is sleeping right now so I have access to my computer right now.

I was able to log onto the D3 and saw the active servers on the server list without problem.  Just had to disable my firewall.  Always have had to do that. 

Without logging onto an actual camp server, I can't say 100% that there are no problems, but I doubt there are any with the Direct X update.

Haven't tested OP directory server access, but I would think that OP pilots wouldn't have a problem either logging on.

[Bonk]

No joy here yet. I'm going to try reinstalling directx.

[Bonk]

I tried running directx_mar2008_redist.exe a second time. It actually installed files! (shakes head at MS...) But no joy, still cannot connect to the directory servers.

I see directx is installing xml files... xml!    I wonder if that conflicts with my MSXML4.0 istall I had to use to make an installer for somebody once...

XML is the the work of the devil, Satan himself I tell you!

I'll try running the directx_mar2008_redist.exe a third time and see if that makes any difference. If not, then I'll see if the 2006 9.0c redist will install.

[Bonk]

Third time - same result.

I can't find the 06 redist in my stacks of backup CDs. 

I wonder if it's still online somewhere?

EDIT: Ah, here's the '06 redist:
http://www.fileplanet.com/168738/160000/fileinfo/DirectX-Installer

I'll try that before I attempt to roll it back to the original 9c from '04. Though I expect neither will install over the current newer version without a little hacking...

[RazalYllib]

I installed and went to boneyard OP was able to log in and stuff...I used the link and installed if that helps anyone?

[Bonk]

Something occurred to me this afternoon. I have the Microsoft DirectX SDK (November 2007) currently installed. Now in the past out-of-date Directx SDKs have not interfered with installed runtimes - perhaps this is no longer the case?

I am going to uninstall the Nov07 SDK , reinstall the Mar08 runtimes and see what I get.

[Bonk]

Nope. That did not do it. I also uninstalled Windows Defender and set my desktop to 16 bit color as well. I still can't get to the serverlist.

I'm going to try a Fresh OP install, I probably should have tried that a while ago...

Wait.. I seem to recall there were issues way back with NVIDIA drivers interfering with Dynaverse login? I just might have to put my old Matrox card back in. (I want to finish Serious Sam 2 first though...  )

[Dracho]

Didn't re-restrict it under XP's firewall did it?

[The Bar-Abbas Anomaly]

 
I think this update may have just ironed out the video-lag that's been bugging me on my beater laptop lately...

[Bonk]

Didn't re-restrict it under XP's firewall did it?

Nope, XP firewall completely disabled. No other software or hardware firewalls present. I have uninstalled AVG and Windows defender as well.

I've yet to do a fresh OP install as I'm in a bit of a bind for disk space. My current OP folder is 3.67GB (lots o models), and I'd like to back it up before I do a fresh install. Hmm that will fit on a DVD... My OP install is almost as old as my windows install and I've grown rather attached to both.

[Centurus]

Wait.. I seem to recall there were issues way back with NVIDIA drivers interfering with Dynaverse login? I just might have to put my old Matrox card back in. (I want to finish Serious Sam 2 first though...  )

Never heard of any problems of nVidia graphics interferring with Dynaverse login.  Hmmm........

[Pestalence_XC]

Neither have I.. both NVidia Released and NVidia Beta..

as a matter of fact, I have been using the NVidia Beta 174.74 drivers vor over a week now without any problems...

smoother game play, faster frame rates.. and 1 to 2 degrees C cooler on the Vid Card..

no log in issues that I know of.. ATI on the other hand **shutters** it depends on which driver you are using for which game..

[Dracho]

Don't forget that a lot of DirectX problems can be with sound as well as video.

[Centurus]

I've only ever encountered 2 problems when it came to nVidia and SFC gameplay.

The first was when I was still running on my old RIVA TNT 2 Ultra AGP card, and when I had the most updated drivers for the card installed, and was playing SFC3, the cursor would disappear from sight when I would move it down to the lower half of the screen, yet when I used the original card drivers, I didn't have that problem.  But gameplay was even worse.  The card was very old by the time I got into SFC gaming, so I knew it was the card giving me problems. 

The other occured on both my old RIVA and on my FX 5200 card.  Sometimes the graphics would go all wonky and the colors would turn pyschedelic.  In the least extreme of the cases, my ship would still appear normal, but everything else, including ships, would be nearly impossible to identify by sight.  I had to rely on the HUD in the corner of my screen and on my UI to determine what shield front that was facing the current target.  And in the most extreme cases, my ship wasn't even visible.  Everything looked like a light show of different colors.  And restarting from a cold boot wouldn't fix it every time. 

Don't have either problem anymore.