Windows 10 Direct Draw Init failed: solved

[sir_deadlock]

This is a known issue on Steam (not on GOG), with a known solution that has been mentioned in the "Direct Draw Init Failed" post multiple times. I'm making this post in the hopes that people will come here first and be able to start playing and having that good nostalgic fun:

Go to https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat/releases and download the newest version. I want to mention that you do NOT need to make an account with Github to download the file. You can download it anonymously.

Unzip/extract the DLL file and put it in the Game Directory (Right-Click Deadlock II in your Steam library> Manage > Browse local files to get to the game directory)

That's it. That everything. That's the only thing you need to do.
After you put that file in the folder and start up the game like normal, it'll work.

[Pierre D'ut]

The solution worked for me. Thanks.

[emaildeeznutz2020]

it still wont work for me.

[sir_deadlock]

Originally posted by emaildeeznutz2020:

it still wont work for me.

You made sure to export the files, not just download the zip file into the directory?

I don't know how to help with technical stuff, but I'm curious what you're experiencing.

[mseymour1]

Thanks! I can now play again!! I found another post that siad to use ddraw.zip but that one did not work, your's did. Again THANKS!

[Rfl]

Nope, doesn't work

[divinasdeamon]

Gratzi, loved this game as a teen, wanted to play it again.

[$niper8952 [CH]]

Doesn't work for me to. I extract the file to de Deadlock directory...

[sir_deadlock]

Originally posted by $niper8952 CH:

Doesn't work for me to. I extract the file to de Deadlock directory...

Hmmm. I'm not a programmer or anything, so I don't know how to help.
I can say that I'm using DDrawCompat-v0.3.1 and it works for me on Windows 10. Did you use a later version of the file? Are you using a different OS, like Windows 11? You're sure you extracted the file itself, not a folder containing the file, into the main Deadlock2 folder where the .exe is located and all that? I don't think it'd change things, but did you restart your computer?

[$niper8952 [CH]]

Hi sir_deadlock
I'm using DDrawCompat-v0.3.1 and Windows 11. If i set start option in steam to -w it is only working via steam and not via shortcut. But the game is not in the Fullscreen mode, it is only in the left up corner.

[sir_deadlock]

Originally posted by $niper8952 CH:

Hi sir_deadlock
I'm using DDrawCompat-v0.3.1 and Windows 11. If i set start option in steam to -w it is only working via steam and not via shortcut. But the game is not in the Fullscreen mode, it is only in the left up corner.

Ah. This patch is for Windows 10. It sounds like it may not be optimized for Windows 11. The last release was May 16, 2021. Windows 11 came out October 5th, 2021.
Did you try setting compatibility to Windows 10? I don't know if that would help.

[出木杉]

work for me ! thanks Sir deadlock.

[wilmat]

Thank You! Works great!

[Plums]

Sadly does not work for me on windows 11, i wonder if anybody has it working on that version of windows.

[sir_deadlock]

Originally posted by Plums:

Sadly does not work for me on windows 11, i wonder if anybody has it working on that version of windows.

There's another posting about Windows 11. This is the advice inside it:

Originally posted by RitoBro:

1. Get this file DDrawCompat-v0.4.0.zip and download it
from https://github.com/narzoul/DDrawCompat/releases/tag/v0.4.0
2. Go to Deadlock II - Shrine Wars and right click.
3. Click Properties and select Local Files
4. Select Browse and it'll open up Deadlock2 Folder
5. Open the file DDrawCompat-v0.4.0.zip and locate ddraw.dll
6. Copy and paste ddraw.dll into Deadlock2 Folder
7. Play Deadlock II - Shrine Wars.