Microsoft’s DirectX

One of the requirements of SubSpace is DirectX.

DirectX is a driver set that contains instructions (in files like DDRAW.DLL and DSOUND.DLL) that makes programming games easier within environments that support DirectX.

Please note that we only provide the program and any technical question on problems installing DirectX should be referred back to Microsoft at www.microsoft.com.

Message from Rob Keir

I was able to duplicate some people's problems of missing DirectX DLLs and DLLs not being able to be linked to. Here's the story...

"SubSpace" uses two DirectX DLL files at runtime, DDRAW.DLL and DSOUND.DLL. These are usually found in your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.

If you manually delete these DLLs, manually copy over the DLLs with other/same versions or even just move the files somewhere else on your disk you'll be in trouble, even if you restore the files back to their original directory afterward. "Subcheck" will report that it has found the DLLs but can't link to them and "SubSpace" will say that it has a problem with DDRAW.DLL and/or DSOUND.DLL and won't start up. This is a peculiar problem considering that restoring the original files to their original directory should have no effect!

So, here's what you can do :-

1. If you haven't already done so, download the "SubSpace" game from our Web site (http://www.vie.com/subspace/files.htm) and install it. DON'T run it yet.
2. If you haven't already done so, download the DirectX install program from our Web site (http://www.vie.com/subspace/files.htm). DON'T install it yet.
3. REBOOT YOUR MACHINE. When it's finished booting DON’T start "SubSpace" or any other program that is likely to use DirectX stuff.
4. If you have already installed a version of the DirectX software or have any remnant of DirectX still on your machine then :-
   If you have them, make a backup of the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDRAW.DLL and \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DSOUND.DLL files, preferably to a floppy disk.
   Delete the files \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDRAW.DLL and \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DSOUND.DLL.
5. Run the DirectX.exe install file. Note that this will (very rudely) reboot your machine.

"SubSpace" should work now. (Probably).

One thing to be aware of, if you delete the files DDRAW.DLL and DSOUND.DLL and then reboot your machine, Windows95 may fail to start. You will then be forced to start the machine in DOS mode (select command prompt only from the startup menu) and then copy your backup DirectX files (see 4) back into the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory and reboot. So DON'T reboot your machine directly after deleting the files!

Rob Keir
SubSpace Team, VIE