Direct 3D

[Mike C]

My machine seems to have developed an odd problem with Direct3D. Everything
was working perfectly and unfortunately I can't pinpoint when this failure
started (as I don't often use my PC for games so didn't necessarily notice
the problem straight away).

Any game I run that requires Direct3D simply drops back to the desktop and
dies when trying to launch. If I run DXDIAG and hit the button to test
Direct3D, again it just drops straight back to the desktop, claiming that
I've pressed a key to cancel the test (which obviously I haven't).

Any ideas?

Dual Athlon 2400MP
Windows XP Pro SP1 (all current updates)
Radeon 9800 Pro (current drivers)
Audigy 2 (current drivers)

 

[Mike C]

Any game I run that requires Direct3D simply drops back to the desktop and
dies when trying to launch. If I run DXDIAG and hit the button to test
Direct3D, again it just drops straight back to the desktop, claiming that
I've pressed a key to cancel the test (which obviously I haven't).

Isn't it always the way - you finally give up on a problem, post a message
asking for help and then all of a sudden inspiration hits. OK, so in this
case it was more a case of finding an additional final straw to clutch at,
but nevertheless, I think I've got it sorted.

I recently installed Adaptec's USB control utility - a handy little tool
which (provided you have an Adaptec USB adapter) will map out all the USB
devices connected to your system, displaying a full connection tree and
details of which devices are capable of and/or running at USB 2.

It would appear that this application is the root of all my problems, but I
hadn't noticed it before, partly because I'd just not thought about it in
relation to the symptoms I'm getting and partly as it only happens if the
application is minimised. Due to this latter there had been occasions when
Direct3D had worked properly after I'd installed the USB utility.

Fingers crossed all is sorted now though.