@nios007
The solution is actually rather simple: as instructed, install DirectX 9.0.
See, this issue is that later versions of DirectX which are installed automatically with newer Windows versions are actually missing certain components that the game requires. So you need to specifically add the 9.0 ones, or it won't work. This won't change or mess up your current DirectX; it'll just be installed alongside it.
Instructions:
- 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.
