"The latest version of DirectX is required to play FINAL FANTASY XIV"

[Potato]

When I try to start the game I get this error, I'm using Windows 8.1 and I have the latest version of DirectX installed, proof: http://i.imgur.com/W79w9gI.png

I can't find any solutions online and I apparently can't post on the support forums unless I have a character created, which is impossible since I can't actually start the game. Anyone know how to fix this?

[Asphe]

Try this first.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

It's a small download and should verify that you have the latest (on the very small chance the install got corrupted).

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You are probably missing a few files (x-input and a few more) because you're running a Win 8.1 fresh install that lacks them. The launcher can't find them then insists you don't have the 'latest'.

I've used two ways to get past this. One is to manually copy the files over from another PC. The other is to use the DXSetup from another game.

You can do the latter by reinstalling any game that has a dxsetup (look at your steam games, a bunch of them should have dxsetup folders). If this doesn't work, you'll have to find out which files are missing and copy them over.

[Gabby]

Yeah... the best way to diagnose is to actually try downloading the latest version of DirectX instead of simply assuming you have it.

Steam should actually install it for you when you install, so something fishy is going on here.

[Potato]

Not only did I not assume I have the latest version but I provided a screenshot in my post of http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35 telling me that I do have it. Also to the first poster this isn't a fresh install, not even close.

[Gabby]

For the record your first post only shows that you installed a version of DirectX, it could have been any version.

Try running dxdiag.exe, see if it has any red flags.

[Asphe]

Автор сообщения: white people

Not only did I not assume I have the latest version but I provided a screenshot in my post of http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35 telling me that I do have it. Also to the first poster this isn't a fresh install, not even close.

They haven't changed the dialog box pics since DX9. You'll notice there's no date or version even. Must have been too expensive ^-^. Anyway, the installer just checks to see if certain files (not all of them obviously) are present.

FYI, the dumb thing only checks up to 9c (and might tell if you if you have 10, else it just says newer). Your Win8.1 comes with DX11.2 and M$ has decreed that you can only get that via Windows Update (or the SDK).

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If it's not a fresh install, you should have the files but they were either corrupted, moved or not installed during the initial Win8 install (this is what happened to my company PCs, we found that M$ + HP decided that we didn't need them on the images).

If the OS was manually installed, using a standard OEM or retail disc, then you can just use 7-zip or similar program to browse the disc and extract the missing files*. If your installation is from and 'image' (like HP, Dell/etc; where it essentially copies a pre-installed 'image') then you might have to google up where you can download the files or have it sent to you.

Don't use the ones from Win10, those files won't work for this.

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Missing files:

Go here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/179113 then click on the link titled "List of file failures that the DirectX End-User Runtime package fixes"

My PCs were missing XINPUT1_2.DLL (yeah, we put back each missing file one by one... of course the file we wanted was near the end).

[Potato]

So I checked all the files to make sure I actually had them and I did. I then deleted them (not all at once) and redownloaded them with the web installer in case any of them were corrupt. After restarting my computer I still have the same issue. I have dozens of other games that I play and none of them give me any errors, so I have no clue what's causing this issue.

[Gabby]

Try updating via the Windows Update instead of trying to constantly install and check off the out of date MS.com package. You can only acquire DX11 package (which should contain DX9's latest too) via Windows Update.

[Potato]

I don't have any directx related updates in windows update.

[Gabby]

Uninstall the DX package entirely, reboot, then run windows update and check for updates. It should spawn it.

[Potato]

You can't uninstall directx from Windows 8.1

[Gabby]

You can, it's not easy, mind you, but you can pretty much remove anything from an OS if you had half a mind to. Though it's probably safer to try rolling back.

[Potato]

Enlighten me as to how I can remove DirectX when it's integrated into the operating system. I've already deleted and re-downloaded all the dll files.

[Gabby]

Well besides changing out the registry, that would do it. (And heck, your problem could be registry based.)

Now, when you reinstalled the 9.0c package, are you SURE you couldn't scan for a DX11 update through Windows Update?

[Asphe]

So it's not that bunch of files that are missing. Pity, that was my 'fast' way.

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Remove any DXInput devices like game controllers (also smartphones including that nVidia mobile). Restart PC and see if that works.

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Try System Restore. Your FF14 just stopped working, any chance you can do a Restore to an earlier date?

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PC Refresh (NOT Reset)

Similar to the System Restore, except you are using the Win8 setup to reinstall DirectX by 'resetting' / 'restore'.

This WILL remove a whole bunch of apps (except those from the Windows Store... of course) that will require reconfiguration if not reinstallation so be prepared or try the registry hack below first.

Best make a restore/refresh image first too:

Run the following (need around 18GB of disk space)

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mkdir C:\RefreshImage and hit Enter.

recimg -CreateImage C:\RefreshImage and hit Enter.

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That can take hours, even on a SSD. If you have the actual 8.1 disc, you can skip this otherwise you got to make one sooner or later.


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Make Windows think it has an outdated DirectX (there are other ways to hack this but this seems simplest to me).

Regedit : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectX

Look for 'Version' and it will show "4.09.00.0904", edit that to say "4.08.00.0904"

(if you see the line right above Version, it'll show a bunch of zeroes and 9).

Note that even though you are on DX11.2, you should still see 4.09 and '9'. Setting it to '8' should allow you to use the DX Webinstaller.

This is a bit risky, so back up the registry first.