Can't play Stronghold Crusader HD because I can't download Directplay

[Ash]

So I bought Stronghold Crusaders on Humblebundle this week but when I try to run the game I get a pop up from Windows saying that an app on my PC needs DirectPlay. I click install but then another window pops up that says:

"DirectPlay cannot be installed. The referenced assembly could not be found. Error code: 0x80073701."

The pop up also gives me a link to this page (»support.microsoft.com/kb/2734782) which doesn't even contain a solution to my error code. Huh?

I'm totally new to a lot of this but Googling around I found some people suggesting to change the compatibility mode, so I went in to steamapps and changed the compatibility of the Stronghold application file to Windows XP (service pack 3) but it just gave me the same pop up about DirectPlay.

I've also downloaded and installed the non-DRM version but it just gives me the same error when I try to play it.

PC is running Windows 8.1. It's got an AMD A8-6500 processor and 6GB RAM. I've played a few other games on the it (Age of Empires II HD, Amnesia, Sims 3, Torchlight 2, RCT 3) and had no issues with them.

Any ideas?

[You_Taste_Great]

try reinstalling .net frameworks and directx etc

[Redex]

Hi, I have the same problem, I have installed Rollercoaster Tycoon 1 (not from steam) and I always get the popup saying additional files or whatever need to be installed and when i click install it searches for a while and gives me the same error, saying that it couldn't find the feature and it shuts down the game. Now, I tried doing everything, enabling direct play through legacy components, and checking all the boxes for .net frameworks but it didn't help. I really don't know what to do. I tried downloading Direct play from a application i found on the interwebs, but it said it could only install on Direct play 8.1, which i have been unable to download.

[Redex]

Oh and I'm running Windows 10