How To Perform DirectX Uninstall in Windows

What is DirectX?

DirectX is an application that comes bundled with all versions of Windows. DirectX is an application program interface (API) which is used to enhance the performance of Audio and Video on a system. All the latest Audio and Video cards manufactured are DirectX compliant.

Operating Systems that include DirectX are:

  • Windows 95
  • Windows 98
  • Windows ME
  • All versions of Windows 2000
  • All Versions of Windows XP
  • All versions of Windows Vista.
  • All versions of Windows 7

What is the function of DirectX on my system?

Almost all games designed for the Windows operating system use the DirectX module to program their high-end multimedia. Most of the games use the DirectX Software Development Kit (SDK) to program the multimedia features of the games. They bundle the DirectX software with the game to use the full potential of the graphics.?

What is the version of DirectX on my system?

All versions of Windows have DirectX installed on them. Windows provides a tool called Dxdiag.exe to help you find out the version of DirectX installed on the system. This tool is often referred to as a diagnostic tool as it can not only find the version of DirectX, but also find out problems with the Audio or Video driver. To run this tool, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start.
  2. Click on Run.
  3. Type Dxdiag and then click OK.

The tool opens up a window that includes all the details of the system and the version of DirectX installed on the system. This tool can also be used to check for any problem with the installed video or audio drivers.

How can I Install or Uninstall a version of DirectX on my system?

DirectX comes as a default software in Windows. You can upgrade the existing version of DirectX on the system by downloading it from the Microsoft download website.
Sometimes a version of DirectX installed on the system might not be compatible with the OS. If this is the case, one of the errors listed below will be generated:

?The version of DirectX that is installed on the computer is incompatible with the game.

One of the DirectX files was not found.?

As DirectX cannot be uninstalled directly from the Add or Remove Programs, we have to run the? system restore? or try the registry fix. Running the ?System Restore? utility takes the system back to a date when it was working fine. The steps to run a system restore are:

  1. Click Start and then go to All Programs .
  2. Click Accessories and locate System Tools .
  3. Click System Restore to launch the utility.
  4. Click Next and choose a restore point.
  5. Click Next after selecting the restore point.

This process will apply the settings as per the stored snapshot and restart your system.

You can check the version once the system has restarted using the Dxdiag.exe tool. If this doesn?t work, you can remove the DirectX entry from the registry. To do this, perform the following steps:

  1. Click Start and then go to Run.
  2. Type Regedit and click OK.
  3. Navigate to ?
    ?HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DirectX
  4. Delete all the keys for DirectX and then delete the Directx folder.
  5. Close Regedit.
  6. Restart the system.

The system upon restart will install the DirectX version which was shipped with the system or previously installed.