Windows 10 unable to initialise directX Workaround Fix

[noone]

Windows 10 SM pirates - unable to initialise directx Workaround Fix

Installing Dirext9c on Windows 10 will not solve this issue


Edit the Config.ini workaround fix
see here

How to run Sid Meier's Pirates! on Windows 7/8 (and Win10)
https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-run-sid-meiers-pirates-on-windows-78/
July 31 2014


or here

Unable to Initialize DirectX: Possibly Solved? Thread
https://steamcommunity.com/app/3920/discussions/0/38596747762161503/
24 Jul, 2014


Further reference info

Sid Meier's Pirates! (2004)
https://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Sid_Meier%27s_Pirates!_(2004)

EDIT by moderator fleetp: Clicking the above link doesn't work. To see the page, copy the address and paste it onto a new tab on your browser.


Wide Screen Gaming forum (wsgf)
https://www.wsgf.org/dr/sid-meiers-pirates-2004

EDIT: Removed note about site being blocked by Chrome and Firefox. Site can now be viewed

wsgf suggets this as a possible fix:
Racer_S's universal resolution changer (version 2)
http://www.wsgfmedia.com/racer_s/ureschanger2.zip

[fleetp]

Moved from "Reserved for Mods" section.

[Pirate]

The best fix I found came in a bottle. Get plastered and nothing gives a damn anymore.Of course being a real pirate rather than a computer geek gives me a different perspective on the subject so I'll close out here and let the rest of you decide what works best for you.

[corsair91]

Wide Screen Gaming forum (wsgf)
site is no longer being blocked

[fleetp]

[corsair91]

How to run Sid Meier's Pirates! on Windows 7/8
https://www.otakuworldgames.com/news/fb00cd424181/paginated/1

EDIT: link now appears to be dead



These are Generic Sites that cover lots of games


pcgaming wiki
https://pcgamingwiki.com/


Wide Screen Gaming forum
https://www.wsgf.org/


https://tweakguides.pcgamingwiki.com/

[corsair91]

This thread has some further info regarding

Using Racer_S's universal resolution changer


1920x1080
Is there any way to make this game run in the full HD? Thread

https://steamcommunity.com/app/3920/discussions/0/864980277816869597/


Quote:

"Using Racer_S's universal resolution changer (version 2) and keeping the configuration .ini file at a 4:3 aspect ratio resolution, the HUD will stay onscreen. Changing the configuration .ini file to the aspect ratio of the desired resolution will cut off the HUD. "

[LoniusM]

Thanks for this thread.

Another way to run this to any resolution in borderless mode is to add a custom resolution with nvidia control panel for example 1440x1080:

nView Desktop Manager -> NVIDIA Control Panel -> Change Resolution (under Display) -> Customize... (under 2. Choose the resolution.) -> Create Custom Resolution... -> Here you put your custom resolution, 1440 by 1080


Then you should edit the config.ini of Sid Meier's Pirates (it is in Documents/My Games/Sid Meier's Pirates) in order to run in this custom resolution in windowed mode (Fullscreen = 0):

[User Settings]
Gamma = 1.000000
KeypadStatus = 1
DisplayShadows = 1
TrilinearFiltering = 1
DisableShaders = 0
AdvancedLighting = 1
WindowWidth = 1440
WindowHeight = 1080
WaterDetail = 3
WorldDetail = 5
ObjectDetail = 2
MasterVolume = 1.000000
MusicVolume = 1.000000
SFXVolume = 1.000000
DanceVolume = 1.000000
IsSlowMachine = 0
MyName = Incognito
Fullscreen = 0
3DAudioDriver =
CustomSail =
CustomFlag =



Then download and install this https://www.techspot.com/downloads/7061-borderless-gaming.html and after you open this, open Sid Meier's Pirates too.

Add Sid Meier's Pirates to favorites in that program, and right click on it and select Set Window Size, choose no in order to select the pixels yourself, and put 240, 0, 1920, 1080, which would center it in the middle of 1080p screen. Of course you can modify this as you want it.

After that, right click again to choose the option Hide Windows Taskbar and you're good to go.

As an added bonus, now the game runs super fast.

Btw, this game rocks.

[corsair91]

Some old Game installers are known to check for specific
DirectX 9C files which may no longer be present with a later OS
such as Windows 10.
(Windows 10 DirectX 12 emulates DirectX 9-11
with DirectX 12 files)

Microsoft recommend the Game Installer should query DirectX
for the available level of functionality. Unfortunately
Game installers may ignore this and instead check for the
actual DirectX 9C filenames.

Copy the relevant DirectX DLL file if the missing name is known
to the game folder is one possible fix option.

Alternative as a last resort, install DirectX 9C (once only)


DirectX 9C full installer, link is below

DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

(If your Disk game predates June 2010, the DirectX 9C
on the Disk may now be outdated, best use the above link
instead)


Version: 9.29.1974
File Name: directx_Jun2010_redist.exe
Date Published: 4/18/2011
File Size: 95.6 MB

EDIT:
Microsoft DirectX 9C hosting link now works again
prevously was giving 404 file not found error


If you have problems downloading from Microsoft

a google search on say
DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010)

will give some hits such as


https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/directx-end-user-runtimes-(june-2010).html
directx_Jun2010_redist-[Guru3D.com].zip


https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/DirectX-9.0c-Redistributable.shtml
directx_Jun2010_redist.exe

[corsair91]

Sid Meier's Pirates! game saves to

C:\Users\[user profile]\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Pirates!

where [user profile] - User Profile name

This location could be blocked by your Anti-virus ransomware protection
feature

If you have a failure to save your game
Set an Anti-Virus File scan Exclusion folder for the above location

Your Anti-Virus product Vendor website
should have further support info on howto do this
as differs between AV Vendor products.


Further Info here:

Impossible to save! What's happening?
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7910

[corsair91]

Windows Games - Save locations

Generic Overview


Originally games may have used say a Save folder
typically in game install folder here:

C:\Program Files
For 32-bit Windows XP or earlier Windows OS (Win9X, 2000)


64-bit Windows OS later changed

C:\Program Files
now used by 64-bit software only

C:\Program Files (x86)
added for 32-bit software only


Old Game Installers would still default to
C:\Program Files
depending on the Game vintage,
(manually change the Game install location)


Microsoft then suggested Games now use the
\My Documents\My Games
location for Savegames
for say around 2004-2005 Windows XP (pre-Vista 2005/6)
vintage games


For Windows 10
C:\Users\[user profile]\Documents\My Games


Microsoft starting with probably Windows Vista
and all later Windows OS versions (7,8,10)
decide to make

C:\Program Files
C:\Program Files (x86)

protected OS file locations
(admin rights required to override)

Not recommended to now install any games to these locations.
Use a separate game folder

Say
C:\mygames\gamename
or
C:\gamename

whatever

Microsoft then also introduce the APPDATA Folder location concept
and roaming profiles for Vista and all later windows OS versions

(Windows OS moved from a single local system,
typically single user profile to a more single system
- multiple user login profiles
and also to facilitate Network logins on any networked PC Systems)


Further info here:

AppData – Where to Find the AppData Folder in Windows 10
https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/appdata-where-to-find-the-appdata-folder-in-windows-10/

Vijit Ail


What Is the AppData Folder in Windows?
https://www.howtogeek.com/318177/what-is-the-appdata-folder-in-windows/

Chris Hoffman


For windows 10
location would be typically something like

C:\Users\[User Profile]\AppData\Roaming\[Publisher name]\[Game name]

(AppData is hidden by default)

[User Profile] - User Profile name

[Publisher name] - Game publisher name
[Game name] - Game name
These vary depending on the game
These may reflect your Start Menu - Installed Game Folder path
(Having a look at your Game Start Menu - folder properties may help
if you don't know the folder names used)


Any Game Support or Game Fan Forum should have the
savegame location as a frequently asked question
or someone will typically ask this.


last resort do a windows search for the savegame
to find it.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2690709/whats-in-the-hidden-windows-appdata-folder-and-how-to-find-it-if-you-need-it.html

[corsair91]

"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file" error when you try to install, update or start a program or file


https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/-windows-cannot-access-the-specified-device-path-or-file-error-when-you-try-to-install-update-or-start-a-program-or-file-46361133-47ed-6967-c13e-e75d3cc29657

Windows 7

See above links as includes screenshots



For windows 10

If file was downloaded from the Internet, you may need to unblock it. Right-click on the installer file and then click Properties. In the General tab, click the Unblock button if available.

[corsair91]

GOG Sid Meier Pirates (2004) known Solution
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8564

see here


sample Config.ini file available

Sid Meier’s Pirates! - Potential workaround for "Unable to initialize DirectX" issue


The "Unable to initialize DirectX" is possibly an invalid
resolution entry written to the Config.ini file.

The retail Disk Game Resolution Changer gets confused
by modern graphics cards and may write a resolution
more like GPS co-ordinates than a proper resolution.
GOG release may have a similiar problem.

DirecX basically throws up an invalid resolution issue
as a failed to initialize error.

This is not a DirectX fault but rather the resolution entry
written to the Config.ini file is not valid and so not recognised.
DirectX then fails to initialize.


The retail Disk Game Resolution Changer requires fixing to
work correctly with modern Graphics cards.
Given that this is a 2004 game, probably now unlikely to happen.


A correct resolution may be written correctly to the Config.ini
file during the initial retail disk game installation.
Using the retail Disk Game Resolution Changer to
change the resolution further, may cause the
DirectX initialize error.

Manually Editing the Config.ini file with a valid resolution
is the workaround fix.

[fleetp]

[corsair91]

Depends whether you ever tried changing the game resolution
using the in-game resolution changer or not

It may work correctly during the inital game install
& setting the resoluton, but not ever afterwards
changing the resoution in-game.

I can personally confim it does happen on a retail disk game release.
(Windows 10 64-bit Home OS, not that it matters.
2008 Sold out Software Blue DVD retail SM Pirates! Disk release.
Installing DirectX 9C runtime on Windows 10 made no difference
as not an actual DirectX problem).

Worked initially as part of the game installation,
but, not ever afterwards, changing the resolution in-game.

The config.ini file resoution entry was more like a GPS co-ordinate
rather than a valid resolution.

For example instead of say 1080 it would be a gibberish format something like 1080.0000.0000
DirectX takes one look at it and essentially says - Nope can't do that

Problem is not specific to Windows 10 as earlier Windows versions
such as Windows 7 or 8 are also affected.


Fix is to manually edit the Config.ini (text) file
and ensure there is a valid resolution entry.

GOG posting a sample Config.ini file suggests that the GOG release
may also have this issue

SM pirates game also lacks Widescreen resolution support as is a
4:3 native format game.

Further info here:
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Sid_Meier%27s_Pirates!_(2004)

Stretched 4:3, Default Resolution of 1400x1050 without GUI Loss
(Anything Beyond this de-synchronizes the mouse)

Skid_Sultan's Widescreen fix available


Config.ini - And All The Settings.
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8676