Directx Error? Could not start graphics engine!

[az_shyguy]

Hello All and good day!!

 I am having a problem with a game I have installed called "little shop of treasures 2" I didn't have any problems with the first little shop of treasures 1... and this one has me miffed!! so will give you comp info and tell you what problem I am having!!


OS Name   Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version   5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer   Microsoft Corporation
System Name   HOME-
System Manufacturer   D815EA
System Model   EA81510A
System Type   X86-based PC
Processor   x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~930 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date   Intel Corp. EA81510A.86A.0014.P04.0006281357, 6/28/2000
SMBIOS Version   2.3
Windows Directory   C:\WINDOWS
System Directory   C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device   \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale   United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer   Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"

Total Physical Memory   512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory   246.33 MB
Total Virtual Memory   2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory   1.96 GB
Page File Space   1.03 GB
Page File   C:\pagefile.sys

Directx version: Directx 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
80gig hardrive (Ultra ATA)

display adapter:" Intel 82815 Graphics controller" then switched to "3dfx voodoo3" card to see if made a difference? (It didn't)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the dilemma?
When I first installed the game and tryed to open it...when I clicked on play I received a Directx Error Saying:

"Could not start Graphics engine.
Make sure you have directx9.0 installed, and Direct3D is Enabled"

Ok.. so I went and made sure I had the Directx installed by going to microsoft and getting it!! then made sure 3D was enabled and ran the test in the Directx diagnostics under tools in system information... all test went ok!

Then I went to driveragent.com and did a driver scan and have updated all drivers.  So I thought maybe it was the display adapter that was bad so I put another one in to see if that was the problem... still the same error.. Oh and after doing all this stuff I have rebooted my computer after every update and change outs! I even uninstalled the game and re-installed it... To no avail!!
So thinking it might be the game itself I downloaded it to another comp and it plays fine.. and took the one I knew was good and installed on here...with the same error everytime!!! I am out of ideas of what to try to get it to work on here...so hopefully you guy's/girls can give me an idea on how to eleminate the error and make it work!!
Thanks for your input and help in advance, and hope I have givin you enough info!

[Broni]

Who is that game made by? Did you try to contact game maker?

[az_shyguy]

I downloaded it from gamehouse so figuring they are the makers..and I am still waiting for a reply back from them.. seems that is only game that doesn't run on comp..but does run on another comp.. thought I would ask and see if anyone had  any suggestions.. while waiting for a reply back from them!!! thinking maybe graphics controller is just out dated!! have updated drivers so maybe just outdated for the newer games?
thanks..

[Computer Hope Admin]

Sounds like a graphics driver issue. Using your on board Intel 82815 Graphics controller try using the latest drivers from the below link.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=797

[az_shyguy]

thanks for the input computer CH Admin.. I have gone and updated the latest driver they have... with the same directx error! 
  I did recieve a reply back from gamehouse support finally and they had me send a directx diag.txt  to them so they could maybe figure out my problem or at least see where to start.. I can post the same report on here if anyone would like to look at it... it is pretty long! hopefully will hear something soon.
Thanks

[Computer Hope Admin]

Huh. I really thought that was going to fix you up. Lets give the game company some time to figure it out. If you've tried the latest drivers and two different video cards maybe it's a software issue. Keep us updated.

[Broni]

One more thing, you could try, is to reinstall DirectX.
Here is how to do it:
http://www.instant-registry-fixes.org/how-can-i-uninstall-directx-9/

To do this, open the Registry Editor by running Regedit from Start > Run. Next, navigate to the following registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DirectX

Here, delete the DirectX folder, exit the Registry Editor, and restart your XP computer. During the system startup, after the restart, your system will reinstall DirectX 8.1 that is originally shipped with the Windows XP operating system.

Then, you can upgrade to ver. 9.0

Always backup your registry before making any changes!

[az_shyguy]

Thanks for the help Broni

  The information was helpful and I went and uninstalled and re-installed the latest directx.  After-wards was crossing fingers hoping that would cure it...but it just came up with same error message.    Am still waiting on reply from gamehouse. sure seems like they arent in a hurry to help but then again might be busy with other support...(though really not a pressing issue with me! its a game..)
  well again - thanks for all the input and suggestions.. appreciate it, if find something out or get it fixed ...will surely let you know!!!

[Broni]

You're welcome. I wish I could have helped  more.

[az_shyguy]

Hello again.... sorry took so long to reply....
  OK... well I heard from gamehouse and they said same thing--- update the drivers... Have already done that... went to see if I could get help from Intel on the graphics controller. once there it said there is no more support for the model I have.. which is 815 chipset... all I could do was look in there archives, which was not any help at all!! so was messin around with the other video card .. the voodoo3 in another computer that was playing the game ok. Once changed to the voodoo3 card got same error message as in other comp! I have came to the conclusion that the video card and the graphics controller in the comp in question, Do not have enough memory to run the game... the voodoo3 video card has only what I found to be 14Mb! so I am way back in the old day's of computer stuff...
  anyhow that is my conclusion and will get a newer video card! oh and the graphics controller I do not believe can handle directx 9.o due to even after installing newest direct x the information on the graphics controller kept coming back with directx 8.1
Thanks again for the help!! Merry Christmas all!!

[Broni]

Nice work.

Merry Christmas to you.

[Computer Hope Admin]

Thanks for the follow-up.