Received the same DirectX 8.1 error trying to play C&C Zero Hour using the Origin software on Win 10 x64.

None of the options.ini, resolution changes, .dll files deletion worked for me. Enabling GPU Scaling using my AMD video card software did the trick however. 

Hopefully this helps someone out and gets them to playing the game faster 🙂

By the way, DirectX 8.1 is not a version of DirectX which comes shipped with Windows. You need to install DirectX 9.0c (which apparently contains it) manually:

1. Download this redistributable package from Microsoft
2. Run it, then tell it to extract the necessary files to any folder of your choosing (one you'll easily browse to)
3. After it's finished, go to that folder and run DXSETUP.exe as administrator.
4. Reboot your computer once the installation is finished.

This will resolve the missing DirectX library issue for C&C Generals, C&C 3 Tiberium Wars, C&C Red Alert 3, C&C 4 Tiberian Twilight and their expansions, as well as the Battle for Middle-earth series.

Hi, sorry to drag up an old thread, but i have been trying to sort this out for the past 24 hours, i have the same DX8.1 error, so far i have uninstalled reinstalled the game, changed from AVG to another provider due to another error coming up due to AVG, i have done the trick of changing the resolution on the options.ini as well as deleting/ making new ones when they weren't there before. I have reinstalled microsoft c++ 2015/2017 as another web site said this has been a fix for some. and am still at a dead end currently? running on windows 10, ryzen 5 1600x and amd rx580. any help would be great i used to love this game so want to get back into it. This happens for me for both Generals and Zero Hour

@paulanator7Next time please read the whole topic you're posting in. Almost all solutions are already in this topic haha. Well, see here for the possible solutions: https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Command_%26_Conquer:_Generals#DirectX_8.1_error_.28Windows.29 Did it work?

YES THIS WORKS WONDERS FOR ALL THE GOG AND OTHER OLD GAMES GOD DAMNNIT

ALL THOSE DELETING AND CHANGING OPTIONS.INI SUCKS

WORKS GRAND in  NVDIA GAME CARDS ALSO. Just Change the resolution of your god darn screen works as well

JESUS CHRIST KNNCCB FREAKING WORKS.

@minabooeh? Changing options.ini work for many people as the installation sometimes has big problems with handeling this file correctly. Also these fixes don't work for all old and GOG-games.... Also, what is KNNCB? XD I don't really know what you mean with the rest, but please refrain from using Caps-lock while typing as this way you sound like you're aggressive towards somebody haha..... You just mean that my message above links to the solution that worked for you? 🙂

hey i tried the 2 fixes and it still dont work do you know anything?

It didn't work.  My setup is windows 10 pro.  I also followed all previous attempts at a solution.  Thank you for trying.