Anno 1404 won't start - d3dx9_40.dll error

[Honeydewing]

I found the Anno 1404 file on my documents and an error message appeared - d3dx9_40.dll error. Now I've searched on the internet for solutions and it's all very complicated and confusing. Things like Defrags, etc. I have no Idea what this means and how to initate it. So I found an easy one, to restart my computer to see if the error was a "fluke" and it isn't. The Anno 1404 game still won't start up, It will go to running on the steam library and a Anno 1404 Venice is starting up description will show and then disappear and the game will act as though it has not been activated, yet steam says I was last on it today. How do I fix this error? I have no clue what to do. If it helps answer any questions in advance, I installed Anno 1404 venice first and coudn't play, so I think I de-installed it because I had the options to install the game again and so I installed anno 1404 first then venice and it still won't allow me to play because of d3dx9_40.dll error. Thanks.

[Shona (vincit omnia veritas)]

Rightclick on the game -> Properties -> Local Files -> Verify Integrity of game cache...

If this does not help go to X:\Steam\steamapps\common\anno 1404\DirectX
Delelte the following files

-> Nov2008_d3dx9_40_x64.cab
-> Nov2008_d3dx9_40_x86.cab

Then again "Rightclick on the game -> Properties -> Local Files -> Verify Integrity of game cache..."

[Storm]

Anno requires dx9 to run, install dx9 free from microsoft

[Shona (vincit omnia veritas)]

Originally posted by Storm:

Anno requires dx9 to run, install dx9 free from microsoft

????

[Honeydewing]

I managed to get it working when I installed Don't starve together as it added the file I needed. Also when I looked at the same issue on the internet it said that using dx9 from microsoft would not work because it wouldn't be properly placed (Or something similar to this). Thanks the help.

[Creepio]

I just installed Windows 10 yesterday and I was having this very same problem. The solution I found was to navigate to the DirectX folder inside the Dawn of Discovery folder "F:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Dawn of Discovery\DirectX" (your location will probably be different than mine) and then scroll down and run "DXSETUP.exe". Install that ♥♥♥♥. ;) Don't worry, Windows should be smart enough to recognize that you're attempting to install an old DirectX and not cause any problems. Afterwards, just launch the game. Works like a charm. Hope this helps.

[Klesk 🌈 Нептун 🇺🇦]

Originally posted by Honeydewing:

I managed to get it working when I installed Don't starve together as it added the file I needed. Also when I looked at the same issue on the internet it said that using dx9 from microsoft would not work because it wouldn't be properly placed (Or something similar to this). Thanks the help.

Thank you very much! Your solution is working for me, too!