Age of Empires 3 does not start on a vista machine, get this error "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III\d3dx9_25.dll is not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error."

I'm trying to play age of Empires 3 on my computer running windows vista Home premium and the program does not start. I get the error message: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III\d3dx9_25.dll is not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error." I tried many suggestions from Microsoft (resettlement program, reinstall in safe mode, update & reinstall the drivers for my video card, the compatibility issues with vista, updating and reinstalling directx 9.0 c, install vista service packs 1 & 2) but nothing has worked so far. I was able to play the game on the same computer with windows xp installed (it's a different hard drive that is not in the computer, and everything is the same) and it worked fine. My computer is old enough, but like I said the game worked before installing vista. ASUS A7N8x deluxe, AMD Athlon xp 3200 +, ATI radeon 9600, 2 GB OCZ ram that all suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

Hi Raygun55,

Welcome to Microsoft Vista answers Forum!

This problem may occur if the Microsoft DirectX file that is mentioned in the error message is damaged or is not copied correctly.

I suggest that you copy the file manually by following the steps and check if you are able to play the game without any problems:

Manually copy the file

To do this on a computer that is running Windows Vista, follow these steps:

1 insert the disc 1 CD for one of the following games into the player from the computer:

o Age of Empires III

o Fable: The Lost Chapters

o Zoo Tycoon 2

o Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends

2. click on start to reduce this includes this image and then click Documents.

3. Locate, and then click computer.

4. search and then click on the CD drive.

5. Locate and then click the following folder:

CD player :\ DirectX9

Note In this folder path, the CD player represents the drive letter of the CD drive.

6 double-click on Apr2005_d3dx9_25_x86.cab, right click on d3dx9_25.dlland then click copy.

In Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, double click Aug2005_d3dx9_27_x64.cab right-click d3dx9_27.dlland then click copy.

Note Use the Apr2005_d3dx9_25_x64.cab file for the x 64 version of the Windows operating system.

7. find one or more of the following folders, depending on the games that are installed on the computer:

By car : \Program Files\Microsoft: Age of Empires III

By car : \Program Files\Microsoft Games\Fable - The Lost Chapters

By car : \Program Files\Microsoft Games\Zoo Tycoon 2

By car : \Program Files\Microsoft Games\Rise of legends

Note In these folder paths, drive represents the letter of the drive where the game is installed.

8. right click on the folder of the game which is the part that is installed on the computer, and then click Paste.

Note If you have installed more than one game on the computer, repeat steps 5 and 6 for the other games.

You can check the link for more information: error message when you try to start a Microsoft game: "the file d3dx9_XX. DLL was not found": http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910813

Alternatively, you can try to install the game in XP compatibility mode and check if you are able to play or not.

Right-click on the game > click Properties > click on the Compatibility tab > select for XP compatibility mode > click OK.

Let me know if it worked.

Thank you, and in what concerns:
Swathi B - Microsoft technical support.
Visit our Microsoft answers feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Tags: Windows

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