Directx 9 error

[Sphinx]

So I get into the game and I try to change the graphics option and when I do it the game crashes and gives this message:
Could not initialize Direct3D. Please ensure that DirectX9 or higher is installed.
The game encountered a fatal DirectX issue while attempting to start, try a different screen resolution or bit depth.
Did any of you ever had this problem?

[Ironwu]

This is quite common on systems that have fresh installs of Win11 and some Win10 as well. It is caused by the later DX versions supposedly supporting older DX versions, including DX9, when they actually do not have FULL support.

LOTRO requires a full DX9 installation to run even if you are using DX10 or DX11 in the game.

The fix is to go to the Microsoft Website and get the DX9 kit that has the missing components. NOT the full DX9 install, that won't work as the current Windows will not let you install an 'older' version of DX anymore. But the kit will include the needed files without disturbing the current installations.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Hope this solves the problem!
Good Luck

[Sphinx]

Originally posted by Ironwu:

This is quite common on systems that have fresh installs of Win11 and some Win10 as well. It is caused by the later DX versions supposedly supporting older DX versions, including DX9, when they actually do not have FULL support.

LOTRO requires a full DX9 installation to run even if you are using DX10 or DX11 in the game.

The fix is to go to the Microsoft Website and get the DX9 kit that has the missing components. NOT the full DX9 install, that won't work as the current Windows will not let you install an 'older' version of DX anymore. But the kit will include the needed files without disturbing the current installations.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Hope this solves the problem!
Good Luck

It didn't work but thanks for the help anyway.

[Ironwu]

What DX are you set for in-game? DX9, DX10, or DX11?

If using DX9, switch to DX10 (it is better than the current DX11).

Note that the game does not support really wide displays.

[Sphinx]

Originally posted by Ironwu:

What DX are you set for in-game? DX9, DX10, or DX11?

If using DX9, switch to DX10 (it is better than the current DX11).

Note that the game does not support really wide displays.

It's on DX9 it seems but the option is greyed out so I can't change.

[Ironwu]

Originally posted by Sphinx:

Originally posted by Ironwu:

What DX are you set for in-game? DX9, DX10, or DX11?

If using DX9, switch to DX10 (it is better than the current DX11).

Note that the game does not support really wide displays.

It's on DX9 it seems but the option is greyed out so I can't change.

Ok. That's the problem. DX9 does not work very reliably in LOTRO anymore. So, need to figure out why you don't have the option to use DX10 / DX11.

What kind of OS, Graphics Card, and so forth are you running?

[Ironwu]

Easiest way to get the current DX packages (Less the DX9 stuff you already put on) is to install LOTRO from the SSG site.

Alternatively, can do the DX stuff manually:

https://forums.lotro.com/index.php?threads/install-new-lotro-installs-one-guide-to-rule-them-all.125/

[Sphinx]

Windows 11, 12th gen Intel Core i5-12400F, DirectX 12 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

The thing is I can run the game, don't get me wrong, it's only when I want to change the graphics that it crashes

[Ironwu]

Originally posted by Sphinx:

Windows 11, 12th gen Intel Core i5-12400F, DirectX 12 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

The thing is I can run the game, don't get me wrong, it's only when I want to change the graphics that it crashes

Understood. But running under DX9 is not optimal or even recommended.

Best thing is to try an installation directly from the SSG LOTRO site without going through Steam. Removing one of the variables is the first step to finding a solution. :)

It is just possible that installing from the SSG site will 'fix' the Steam installation.

I also assume here that you are NOT running on a laptop and that you HAVE disabled your on-board graphics (if any since you are using an 'F' model).

Also, here is the SSG recommendations:

https://help.standingstonegames.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002138648-How-do-I-use-DirectX-10-or-11-graphics-in-the-game-

Could try those first. :)

[Sphinx]

On-board graphics? I'm not sure if I disabled anything and I'm running on a desktop I bought recently, guess I'll try from their website but I really wanted to run through steam
I also tried that link from the help tab and i tried those steps and didn't work

[Ironwu]

Originally posted by Sphinx:

On-board graphics? I'm not sure if I disabled anything and I'm running on a desktop I bought recently, guess I'll try from their website but I really wanted to run through steam
I also tried that link from the help tab and i tried those steps and didn't work

Your motherboard may have a graphics card built in. It is IMPERATIVE that you disable it if the system has a discrete GPU Card. To do that you go into the BIOS and look for an on-board graphics option and disable it.

[Ironwu]

In any case, if nothing else works, then do a fresh install (to a different directory) from the SSG site.

See if that will allow you to access DX10 / DX11.

Then if it does, try running from Steam and see if it still balks. If it does, there is something amiss with the Steam installation.

If the SSG installation does not work, then something is amiss on the system.

[Sphinx]

Originally posted by Ironwu:

In any case, if nothing else works, then do a fresh install (to a different directory) from the SSG site.

See if that will allow you to access DX10 / DX11.

Then if it does, try running from Steam and see if it still balks. If it does, there is something amiss with the Steam installation.

If the SSG installation does not work, then something is amiss on the system.

I'm doing a fresh install from the website, if this doesn't work I just want to say thank you for all the help you provided me today.

[Sphinx]

Looks like from the website it works, the hardware graphics options are not greyed out and it shows directx9,10 and 11.
Trying from steam now and the option continues to be greyed out but now I'm on ultra high graphics option and changing it doesn't crash so maybe going through the website fixed something I suppose.

[Ironwu]

Originally posted by Sphinx:

Looks like from the website it works, the hardware graphics options are not greyed out and it shows directx9,10 and 11.
Trying from steam now and the option continues to be greyed out but now I'm on ultra high graphics option and changing it doesn't crash so maybe going through the website fixed something I suppose.

Glad there is at least a little progress. I have never played LOTRO from Steam and have had no issues with the SSG native install. Been playing (off and on) since launch. If you don't actually care about Steam achievements, there is no reason to play from Steam. :)

Have fun with it! :)

[Sphinx]

Originally posted by Ironwu:

Originally posted by Sphinx:

Looks like from the website it works, the hardware graphics options are not greyed out and it shows directx9,10 and 11.
Trying from steam now and the option continues to be greyed out but now I'm on ultra high graphics option and changing it doesn't crash so maybe going through the website fixed something I suppose.

Glad there is at least a little progress. I have never played LOTRO from Steam and have had no issues with the SSG native install. Been playing (off and on) since launch. If you don't actually care about Steam achievements, there is no reason to play from Steam. :)

Have fun with it! :)

Thank you, you have helped me a lot with this issue, now I can take some good screenshots with the graphics at the highest lvl, if you look at some of the ones I took before they were a bit ugly.