DDRAW.DLL file cannot start!?

Every time I try and run Bolo that is what pops up!? I know Bolo works on my comp, I played it for 2 days and then all of a sudden bang! I cannot use it?!? Please help me!!! I've tried getting an updated DirectX [9.0b]. I know that the DDRAW.DLL is used for 2D graphics. Anybody else have this problem ever? Or is anybody willing to contact me and send me a copy of their DDRAW.DLL off their computer [windows 98]??? PLEASE HELP! :?: :?: :?:

Please provide the exact wording of the error message.

From your message it sounds like you need to reinstall DirectX

don't provide exact wording: take a screenshot of it and post that here.

http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem.jpg


Alright, there it is!

if that one doesn't work then this:
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem.bmp



O yes, cause that might not work too, select and highlight one of the lines of URL and paste it into the Address bar and hit enter or send it to yourself in an IM. In general I find that these posts hate me so yea, there are three ways, one must work.

I tried visiting the links you provided. I get a

"We're sorry, but this page is currently unavailable for viewing. If this site belongs to you, please read this help page for more information and assistance."

message.

Please just type in the text from the error messages.

Ok. Now it works.

This is not a WinBolo error message. It is an error message generated by Windows when WinBolo requests DirectX starts. I would try:

1. Rebooting
2. Reinstalling DirectX
3. Running directx diagnostics and seeing if the direct draw tests succeed.

1. tried rebooting about 20 times
2. done this too, I've tried going to DirectX 9.0b, then also DX 8.0 and also back up to DX 9.0b.
3. the dagnostics don't run right, some KERNEL32 error, I get that and also EXPLORER Critical errors. I have recieved regdll32 errors before too, [after bolo stopped working]

http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem2.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem3.jpg

there are the two things I recieved, the first one first, then the second one right after

Falcon wrote:

3. the dagnostics don't run right, some KERNEL32 error, I get that and also EXPLORER Critical errors. I have recieved regdll32 errors before too, [after bolo stopped working]

If DirectX diagnostics doesn't run correctly it would indacate there is something wrong with your installation of it or something wrong with Windows itself.

Do the DirectDraw tests work? (The Draw tab)

Alright, here ya go:

Proof that my DDRAW.DLL has no problems or so the program says:
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem5.jpg




Now here is the DirectDraw [look at the bottom in the window part, it should explain, any further help?]:
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem4.jpg

Will anybody that reads this thread please search their computer [start: find: file and folders: search for DDRAW.DLL, from there will you right click on it, then down to properties. check and see if the version tab shows that they are 4.09.0000.0902 If so please post here! I need this file to correct the failure of bolo I have a feeling]

Falcon wrote:

Proof that my DDRAW.DLL has no problems or so the program says:
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem5.jpg

No, that is proof that the file is there, not proof that it is working.

Now here is the DirectDraw [look at the bottom in the window part, it should explain, any further help?]:
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem4.jpg

This is proof that it doesn't work. if you read what it says at the bottom of that screen shot it says DirectDraw test failed. Loading DirectDraw failed. DirectX diagnostics is having the same problem that WinBolo is.


Just out of curiosity, what video card are you using anyway?

Yea I know those though, my problem is that I have no way to fix that I don't believe!

Any advice, do you have a 4.09.0000.0902 version of DDRAW.DLL ? Or any advice about getting the DirectX to install correctly?

Taken from Microsoft Knowledge Base, Article 308117
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308117

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type C:\Program Files\DirectX\Setup\Dxdiag.exe, and then click OK.
Click the Display (or Display 1, if present) tab.

If fewer than 4 megabytes (MB) of video memory are installed on your video adapter, you need to install additional video memory or install a video adapter with more memory.

Or, right-click on the desktop, select Properties, then click on the Settings tab. The monitor listed should be the same as the one you are using.

This may or may not solve your problem, but many of my questions are answered by looking through the Microsoft Knowledge base. If this helps, let us know. :)

//Edit
I wouldnt advise replacing Windows/DirectX files manually. Remove DirectX from your system and start with a clean install of the latest version.

ok, now this just bites
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem4.jpg
go look at that, under the approx total memory.... it gives nothing... Any other help? I'm testing things now... any mre help is nice though

alright, even more evil news....

I cold booted, reinstalled Dx and everything, after getting rid of DX and restarting, no luck! I get this when I start up my comp though:
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem8.jpg


though, when I try and get BOLO to run I get these two messages, in this order:
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem6.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem7.jpg


THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!

It sounds like your computer is having major troubles. Have you tried the usual:

1. Virus scan.
2. Adware scan.
3. Hard Disk scan for disk problems.

Elvis wrote:

It sounds like your computer is having major troubles. Have you tried the usual:

1. Virus scan.
2. Adware scan.
3. Hard Disk scan for disk problems.

You aren't going to believe me when I say this...

1. I need to buy a new Virus scan - 1100 days old is a little past date huh? [I have a firewall and still have a virus scanner, just the VS is not up to date]

2. Yup, I've done this tons of times, nothing working.

3. The HD scan does not work, there is some problem with it, I don't know what it is... This is starting to make me wonder what the -plus- side of this computer is now...


Well here are some more links of errors I've been recieving:
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problem9.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/problema.jpg


also: I wrote a webpage[index] so I don't have to post this links up all the time, so go here and there is a list of them:

http://www.geocities.com/blhcorp/skyhawks/index.html

Also, another note, I owe windows XP, I have not upgraded to it, I'm not sure if it is a good idea or not to try and upgrade when my comp is having these problems or what? But would it fix these problems perhaps? Because XP should have a DX already built with it? Just a note, if anybody knows, please help.

While we are on the subject of errors and problems, my PC (trusty Smegtech X91 with superCGA eXpandografiX card and 13 inch monitor with dual floppies and Honeywell paper tape reader) has been
making funny noises and smells lately (I noticed the funny smell when I
last played Bolo; hence the question here).

The noises were kind of scratchy and I could hear a kind of scurrying now and then from the back. The noises stopped recently and then I got a sort
of burning smell. That died away after a few days but now I get a kind
of nasty smell (kind of like rotten sausages) that is getting worse.
I tried reinstalling direct X but the smell got worse. Any ideas?

Desmo

Desmo wrote:

While we are on the subject of errors and problems, my PC (trusty Smegtech X91 with superCGA eXpandografiX card and 13 inch monitor with dual floppies and Honeywell paper tape reader) has been
making funny noises and smells lately (I noticed the funny smell when I
last played Bolo; hence the question here).

The noises were kind of scratchy and I could hear a kind of scurrying now and then from the back. The noises stopped recently and then I got a sort
of burning smell. That died away after a few days but now I get a kind
of nasty smell (kind of like rotten sausages) that is getting worse.
I tried reinstalling direct X but the smell got worse. Any ideas?

Desmo

sounds like a mouse crawled into your fan, got chopped up, and now is stinking, the massive heat produced by your video card is aggravating the problem, so when you play bolo it gets worse.

Min

p.s. Nice system, must have cost you thousands .... wow, I wish my system was that awsume.

Min wrote:

Desmo wrote:

While we are on the subject of errors and problems, my PC (trusty Smegtech X91 with superCGA eXpandografiX card and 13 inch monitor with dual floppies and Honeywell paper tape reader) has been
making funny noises and smells lately (I noticed the funny smell when I
last played Bolo; hence the question here).

The noises were kind of scratchy and I could hear a kind of scurrying now and then from the back. The noises stopped recently and then I got a sort
of burning smell. That died away after a few days but now I get a kind
of nasty smell (kind of like rotten sausages) that is getting worse.
I tried reinstalling direct X but the smell got worse. Any ideas?

Desmo

sounds like a mouse crawled into your fan, got chopped up, and now is stinking, the massive heat produced by your video card is aggravating the problem, so when you play bolo it gets worse.

Min

p.s. Nice system, must have cost you thousands .... wow, I wish my system was that awsume.

It is a great source of heat in the Winter. Thanks for teh advice about
the mouse. Should I also do a disk defrag or virus check?

Curious how you would you know what rotten sausages smell like, Desmo?

i would recommend formatting and reinstalling everything... yes its a boring task.. but really only takes about 2 hours to have everything back up and running.... aswell as purchasing a new virus program... seeing as your virus definitions are... well.. ancient.

I believe ANCIENT is an understatment when it comes to my virus scan [1100, it stopped counting, it is over like 4 years old I think... yea it is 2000 ver. lol] ... But yea, I'll speak with the owners [parents of course] about going up to XP and try and get an updated virus scanner, I'll work from there.

also Desmo, I'd vacuum [use a plastic tiped vacuum] and suck out the dust that you have in your comp, mainly around air flow places, do this when your comp is fully unplugged, everything from the back of the computer [yes, this means the power, mouse and keyboard stuff and all] that way you don't short out and kill yourself doing it. I'd also check on your Monitor too, might want to vacuum off the back of it [not opening it] cause it may be smelling some too.

Thanks all, I'll keep posting til it happens....
and just a random thought, why in the world would this problem start??? A virus maybe that just attacks DirectX?