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hullk86's avatar
5 years ago
Solved

C&C generals directx error

command and conquer generals and C & C generals zero hour, having difficulty running the game as its coming up with an error for Directx 8.1 required. I haven't got any issues running red alert 3 or other in the series. I have re downloaded latest directx but not having much luck. has anyone else had a similar experience? 

thanks for your time 

Andy 

  • @hullk86 

    The problem is that the "or higher" refers to higher versions of DirectX 8/9, not higher versions of DirectX beyond 9. The game can't actually use the DirectX 10/11/12 that is installed on windows machines by default nowadays, so updating to the latest DirectX will not help you.

    The solution is simple; install DirectX 9:

    • Download the DirectX Redistributables package from June 2010. Be sure to uncheck any other junk they want to add to it. It should be a file called "directx_Jun2010_redist.exe".
    • Run the downloaded file. It'll ask for a folder to unpack in. Make a new folder somewhere on your disk and unpack it there. It doesn't matter where you unpack it; it can be deleted afterwards anyway.
    • Go to the folder where you told it to extract.
    • Find "DXSETUP.exe", and run that to install the missing components.
    • After the installation finished, delete the folder you unpacked everything in.

    Since this is a completely separate thing, it will not interfere with your installed higher-version DirectX.

    [-EDIT-]

    It seems Generals, specifically, has an issue with DirectX that is caused by a malfunctioning dll in the game folder that was actually left there from testing. If you go into the game folder, and delete the file "dbghelp.dll" there, this problem should be resolved.

28 Replies

  • drtbar's avatar
    drtbar
    Rising Newcomer
    11 months ago

    Deleting the dll still works for me. Just have to make sure you are deleting it from the correct installation, since I now have couple different folders from steam, to origin, and now to ea loaders.

  • @1Marduc1 Great, thanks for that hint! Lowering the resolution did the trick for me. I also set it to 1600x1200 some time ago and spent hours yesterday trying to fix that DirectX error

  • foliolio's avatar
    foliolio
    Seasoned Newcomer
    6 months ago

    Thank you.  The options.ini was the fix for me.

  • JKingman's avatar
    JKingman
    Newcomer
    5 months ago

    I hope this information may help other. If i run the Generals game on the CPU graphics it seems to run and start find, i f i try to run it on an exertan screen via hdmi so it uses the graphics card. i get the direct x error also. tired the 2010 redistubition pack for direct x. and also tryed the options file. i allos tryed ervery option file to low that i could find no resolution in them  also unable to find dbghelp. edit i can find dbghelp but in many different folders unrelated to c and c

    Running on a dell g5 i5 8th gen windows 10 untill i have to update and 1060 q max.

     

    Havnt tryed gen patcher as i dont know what it is and my anti virus does not like it. 

  • MrSiberian's avatar
    MrSiberian
    Rising Rookie
    4 months ago

    do a search for it within the Origin directory.......won't come up just by looking.

  • kgx9jnovcsuk's avatar
    kgx9jnovcsuk
    Rising Newcomer
    3 months ago

    it work ! Try this !

    The other one, is where the games are saved (mine is: C:\Users\XXX\Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data) -> this one worked

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