Directdraw can't be enabled. Old Games on a New Computer.

[TheInternal]

Greetings,

I'm trying to run Fable: The Lost Chapters on my Windows 7 64bit based system. Every time I try to run the game (regardless of compatibility mode or my attempts at compatibility troubleshooter), I get the following error message:

"A problem occurred initializing DirectDraw. Hardware acceleration may be disabled, please run DXDIAG."

Running DXDIAG is showing that DirectDraw was disabled (32 bit mode). I've no idea how to enable it. I've been looking around the web and on Microsoft's websites for a way to enable it with no luck. I tried to find a Windows 7 driver for my Dell 2405 FPW (connected via DVI), but haven't had any luck. DXDIAG 64 bit has it enabled.

I've already run the DirectX web update, and it said my DirectX is up to date.

Lots of other folks post to go here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/191660 ... but the information is utterly useless. For example, "method 1" says to type "display" in the start menu search, then select "display properties" in the "programs" list. Display properties isn't listed. Method two refers to somehow enabling or disabling directdraw and direct3D in the display tab of DXDIAG... no such option exists. -facepalm-

I've run plenty of other not so new games on the system so far with no issues. Saint's Row the Third, Dear Esther, Dungeon Defender, Borderlands, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Gold Edition, Team Fortress 2...

My new system is a stable / heavily tested system (craploads of Prime95 runs for hours on end with no errors / decent thermals):

CPU:
Intel Core i5 3750k overclocked to 4.4GHz
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V Pro

RAM:
4 x 4 GB Samsung

GPU:
2 x Gigabyte Geforce GTX 670 in SLI moad

Display:
Dell 2405FPW 24" widescreen (using Generic PnP Monitor driver... no Windows 7 driver available)

disk drives:
Samsung 830 256GB SSD (programs)
WD Caviar Black 1 TB / 1001FALS (media)
LG blu-ray burner

PSU: Seasonic Platinum 860 watt

 

[TheInternal]

I've probably spent the last three hours trying to find a solution, and I think I may finally have done so. A guy apparently made a directdraw work-around to play some of his old Wing Commander games on his Windows 7 system, and they seem to work moderately well for Fable (and some other titles too).

All you have to do is copy two files into the game's main directory (where the main .exe is) as he says to do in his readme file.

Here's the link to his site:

http://sol.gfxile.net/ddhack/

 

[Jaydip]

I played the game on win 7x64 without any issues at all.I bought it from steam though.Is it a retail copy?

 

[Schmide]

Here's the link to his site:

http://sol.gfxile.net/ddhack/

Now that's a good programmer.