DirectX Specific Question

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While participating in Black desktop icons, I got to wondering about my versions of DirectX on my XP and Vista installations. (My Windows 7 DID come with DirectX 11 included.)

My XP is still at DirectX 9 and from what I’ve read, there is NO version 11 yet for XP or Vista. Since I’ve never “knowingly” updated a DirectX, I was wondering if Microsoft includes updated versions in the usual OS updates or does one have to do so manually?

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While participating in Black desktop icons, I got to wondering about my versions of DirectX on my XP and Vista installations. (My Windows 7 DID come with DirectX 11 included.)

My XP is still at DirectX 9 and from what I’ve read, there is NO version 11 yet for XP or Vista. Since I’ve never “knowingly” updated a DirectX, I was wondering if Microsoft includes updated versions in the usual OS updates or does one have to do so manually?

There are several paragraphs at DirectX download – DirectX 10, DirectX 9, DirectX 8 and the new DirectX 11 – how to get them. which explain DirectX availability in various Windows versions. There is a mention of a download for Vista SP-2 which adds some of the DirectX 11 features to Vista. I think that Description of the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and the Platform Update for Windows Vista is the update mentioned.

Joe

--Joe

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There are several paragraphs at DirectX download – DirectX 10, DirectX 9, DirectX 8 and the new DirectX 11 – how to get them. which explain DirectX availability in various Windows versions. There is a mention of a download for Vista SP-2 which adds some of the DirectX 11 features to Vista. I think that Description of the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and the Platform Update for Windows Vista is the update mentioned.

Thanks Joe! I’ll read your links when I get home this afternoon.

I did notice at one site I visited this morning that they pointed out that there are a lot of “bad guys” out there pushing FAKE versions of DirectX with which to propagate their trojans and whatever else! We all need to beware that we get OS software and updates ONLY from a MS location.

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Thanks Joe! I’ll read your links when I get home this afternoon.

I did notice at one site I visited this morning that they pointed out that there are a lot of “bad guys” out there pushing FAKE versions of DirectX with which to propagate their trojans and whatever else! We all need to beware that we get OS software and updates ONLY from a MS location.

I agree with getting MS updates only from MS. I was only using that “softwarepatch” site because it has the nice description of the DirectX installation availability.

Joe

--Joe

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Yes it does contain a nice description. Oh, and I wasn’t throwing “rocks” at them. In their paragraph about Vista is this quote:
[indent]
# Click Start – All Programs – Windows Update.
# In the navigation pane, click Check for updates. [/indent]

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I only update when a game says I have to update and usually what is needed is on the game install disc. Is there ever a need to update a working version of DirectX for any other reason?

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I only update when a game says I have to update and usually what is needed is on the game install disc. Is there ever a need to update a working version of DirectX for any other reason?

The occasional security issue.

Joe

--Joe

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For those of you reading this thread that do not know how to check your version:
In win 7 type dxdiag in the run box or in a cmd prompt. I assume the cmd prompt would work with earlier versions of Windows as well.

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For those of you reading this thread that do not know how to check your version:
In win 7 type dxdiag in the run box or in a cmd prompt. I assume the cmd prompt would work with earlier versions of Windows as well.

Yes; or the run box, or…

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My XP is still at DirectX 9 and from what I’ve read, there is NO version 11 yet for XP or Vista. Since I’ve never “knowingly” updated a DirectX, I was wondering if Microsoft includes updated versions in the usual OS updates or does one have to do so manually?

Al,
The only updates I apply to DirectX on Windows XP are security related. As we all know Windows XP started with DirectX 8, and with the service packs it was later on updated to 8.1 and 9.0c. On the other hand it was also possible to install the DirectX 9.0, 9.0a, 9.0b, and 9.0c on XP SP1, I think. There were those standalone downloads; but I’ve never seen any need for that – better to move to the latest SP and get the latest DirectX for that OS version with the SP.

Anyhow, we have seen some security updates, for example for XP:

Post SP2:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS05-050.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms07-064.mspx
Post SP3:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-033.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/ms09-011.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-028.mspx
(Usually critical.)

But they are covered by AU & WU/MU or can be downloaded from MS Download Center.

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