Unable to detect DirectX device

This is what happens when I try to play the game: After 5 minutes (often less) of running around the Ul'Dah starting area, my screen turns black and the game crashes. A window pops up saying "Unable to detect DirectX device. The program has shut down. Please restart FINAL FANTASY XIV." In addition, my computer announces that "Display Driver NVIDIA Windows Mode Driver, Version 196. 91 stopped responding and has successfully recovered."

My system information:

Operating System: Windows 7, 64bit
Processor: Quad core 2,4 ghz
Memory: 8GB Kingston DDRII
Graphic Device: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT 1024 MB

I have installed direct x 9.0 c of the same cd of final fantasy XIV.

I've reinstalled my drivers and I've updated it too, and finally the error appears again. I need a solution please. Thank you

Uninstall your video driver

Run Driversweeper to clear it out completely

Install your latest driver package from Nvidia.com

Try it again.

If that doesn't work you can also try turning down some of your FFXIV graphics settings.

I have been doing all that you say but the error appears again. Sometimes in 5 min, another 20 min... Please if you know another solution, please tell me ; ; Or I will have to buy another graphic card?; ; . Thank you

"Display Driver NVIDIA Windows Mode Driver, Version 196. 91 stopped responding and has successfully recovered." is usually a sign that the card is overheating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SigurdSilbrynd

usually a sign that the card is overheating.

---

This. Either tone down your overclock (if applicable) or increase cooling. FFXIV stresses systems more than most games on the market.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Azafel

"Display Driver NVIDIA Windows Mode Driver, Version 196. 91 stopped responding and has successfully recovered."

---

That driver is way out of date, so can I take your word for it that you actually have the most recent drivers? And that you ran driversweeper? This is the driver package that you want:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7-wi...ql-driver.html

In any case, this isn't an abnormal issue.. and a driver crash usually has nothing to do with overheating in my experience. But the fact that FFXIV stresses your GPU to the MAX is a fact that is important to remember. You would probably find that a new card solves your problem.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Grit

That driver is way out of date, so can I take your word for it that you actually have the most recent drivers? And that you ran driversweeper? This is the driver package that you want:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/win7-wi...ql-driver.html

In any case, this isn't an abnormal issue.. and a driver crash usually has nothing to do with overheating in my experience. But the fact that FFXIV stresses your GPU to the MAX is a fact that is important to remember. You would probably find that a new card solves your problem.

---

This issue is further made noticable by the fact that if XIV looses sight of the graphics window even for a split second it throws the unable to detect DirectX device. Some other games would just hiccup and move on but XIV comes crashing down.

Might be a good time for OP to blow the dust bunnies out and increase the cooling.

I'll quote my answer on other post about the same problem.

Quote:

---

My friends and I had the exact same problem (Usually around Gridania) until we tried something I saw in this forum.

Go to FFXIV Config and set the following:

-Video Settings

Multisampling-> 2x MSAA
General Drawing Quality -> Standard
Background Drawing Quality-> High

-Graphics

Texture Quality -> Standard
Texture Filtering-> Standard

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

After doing this the Directx Error never appeared again. It's not really a matter of lowering the graphic quality.
My friend's computer has that exact configuration and he even had the Multisampling off (meaning it was lower than what I listed) after he put it on 2x the problem was fixed.

Try it, the Standard quality textures are almost the exact same as the High ones, you will basically notice the Item/skill icons being less defined.

If it fixes your problem reply here so other players will know if it might work for them.

---

I am having the same problem with the DirectX, I bought the game yesterday and I just bought a brand new laptop, and I do now know why this is happening, I cant even beging to play the game without it saying "Unable to detect DirectX device. The program has shut down. Please restart FINAL FANTASY XIV."

Im running on windows 7 64 bit, 8g of ram, graphics card is NVIDIA GeForce GT 550M.

All the drivers are updated as well as the direct x

Anyone have any ideas or solutions?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thalion

I am having the same problem with the DirectX, I bought the game yesterday and I just bought a brand new laptop, and I do now know why this is happening, I cant even beging to play the game without it saying "Unable to detect DirectX device. The program has shut down. Please restart FINAL FANTASY XIV."

Im running on windows 7 64 bit, 8g of ram, graphics card is NVIDIA GeForce GT 550M.

All the drivers are updated as well as the direct x

Anyone have any ideas or solutions?

---

If none of the above advice worked for you, you should start your own thread for your specific problem. Be very detailed about exactly when FFXIV crashes.

Open your FFXIV config utility from the start menu, Hit the System button, and then copy to clipboard. Post all of that information in your thread.

Asgarth I have been doing all that you say but the error appears again. i think I will have to buy a new graphic card to be able to play the game. thank you all :(

Do you guys have Nvidia Optimus in your computers?

I had (I hope it is the past) the same problem and I noticed that I have Intel HD graphic card in "system information" in config despite having Nvidia card. I don't care about battery life, so I changed in bios graphic settings from Optimus to Nvidia card and it seems that problem is gone now.

Probably the game starts with Intel HD graphic card and after a while of playing graphic card changes to Nvidia. IMHO that is the moment when the game crashes with "Unable to detect DirectX device", because the old device (Intel HD) is no longer available.

My system information:



-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64bit (build 7600)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33GHz
Number of Processors Logical Core Count 4 Physical Core Count 4
BIOS Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Language español (configuración regional: español)
Physical Memory 8190.305MB
Virtual Memory 2047.875MB
Page File 16378.758MB
Storage C:\ Hard Disk Drive Total Disk Space 465.660GB Free Disk Space 411.987GB
DirectX Version DirectX 11
Graphic Device(s) NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT
+Device \\.\DISPLAY1
+Chip GeForce 9800 GT
+Maker NVIDIA
+Video Memory 997.563 MB
+Shared Video Memory 3071.906 MB
+DAC Type Integrated RAMDAC
+Display Mode 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
+Driver nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
+Driver Version 8.17.0012.7061
+Driver Date 08/04/2011 7:14:00
+Driver Language Inglés
+Vertex Shader 3.0
+Pixel Shader 3.0
+Vertex Texture Supported
Sound Device(s) Altavoces (Dispositivo de High Definition Audio)
+Device ID {355350FD-6865-41F4-AE38-4A1B17C6132A}
+Device Name HdAudio.sys
+Driver Version 6.01.7600.16385
+Driver Language Español
+Driver Date 14/07/2009 2:07:00
Sound Device(s) Audio digital (S/PDIF) (Dispositivo de High Definition Audio)
+Device ID {CF2F57E7-2F88-441A-BB42-B664FAD61C96}
+Device Name HdAudio.sys
+Driver Version 6.01.7600.16385
+Driver Language Español
+Driver Date 14/07/2009 2:07:00
Input Device(s) {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
+Name Mouse
+Notes Axis 3 Button 3 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
+Name Teclado
+Notes Axis 0 Button 128 Field of View 0


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Application Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

2x_PRxCTICA_xcuestionariox - Microsoft Word
Calendario
Catálogo
Conversaciones (2)
El Tiempo
INMUNIDAD_DE_JURISDICCIxN_xjurisprudencia_del_Tribunal_Supremox - Microsoft Word
JURISPRUDENCIA_MENOR_SOBRE_LA_INMUNIDAD_DE_JURISDICCIxN - Microsoft Word
Practica 2 internacional [Modo de compatibilidad] - Microsoft Word
Reloj
Ricardo Torres Aviñó ha enviado un mensaje nuevo - Google Chrome
Sin título: Bloc de notas
Skype™ [1] - arturocebolla
Unable to detect DirectX device - Page 2 - Mozilla Firefox
Windows Live Messenger


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Install Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

Update for Microsoft Office 2007 (KB2508958)
Adobe Flash Player 10 ActiveX
Adobe Flash Player 10 Plugin
Adobe Reader X (10.0.1) - Español
Compresor WinRAR
D3DX10
Driver Sweeper versión 2.6.0
Energy Saver Advance B8.0610.1
FINAL FANTASY XIV
Galería fotográfica de Windows Live
Junk Mail filter update
K-Lite Codec Pack 7.0.0 (Full)
MSVCRT
MSVCRT_amd64
Microsoft Office 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Microsoft Office Access MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007
Microsoft Office Excel 2007 Help Actualización (KB963678)
Microsoft Office Excel MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office Groove MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office InfoPath MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office OneNote MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 Help Actualización (KB963677)
Microsoft Office Outlook MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office PowerPoint MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office Powerpoint 2007 Help Actualización (KB963669)
Microsoft Office Proof (Basque) 2007
Microsoft Office Proof (Catalan) 2007
Microsoft Office Proof (English) 2007
Microsoft Office Proof (French) 2007
Microsoft Office Proof (Galician) 2007
Microsoft Office Proof (Portuguese (Brazil)) 2007
Microsoft Office Proof (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office Proofing (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office Proofing Tools 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Microsoft Office Publisher MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office Shared MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft Office Word 2007 Help Actualización (KB963665)
Microsoft Office Word MUI (Spanish) 2007
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition [ENU]
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.4148
Mozilla Firefox 4.0.1 (x86 es-ES)
NVIDIA 3D Vision Controller Driver
NVIDIA PhysX
NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2288621)
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2288931)
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2345043)
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2466156)
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2509488)
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB969559)
Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB976321)
Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile (KB2446708)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Access 2007 (KB979440)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel 2007 (KB2464583)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Groove 2007 (KB2494047)
Security Update for Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007 (KB979441)
Security Update for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 (KB2464594)
Security Update for Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer 2007 (KB2464623)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 (KB2284697)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Visio Viewer 2007 (KB973709)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Word 2007 (KB2344993)
Security Update for Microsoft Office system 2007 (972581)
Security Update for Microsoft Office system 2007 (KB974234)
Skype Toolbars
Skype™ 4.2
Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB2284654)
Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB967642)
Update for Microsoft Office OneNote 2007 (KB980729)
Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 (KB2412171)
Update for Outlook 2007 Junk Email Filter (KB2522999)
Visual Studio 2008 x64 Redistributables
Windows Live Communications Platform
Windows Live Essentials
Windows Live Installer
Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Movie Maker
Windows Live PIMT Platform
Windows Live Photo Common
Windows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Live SOXE
Windows Live SOXE Definitions
Windows Live UX Platform
Windows Live UX Platform Language Pack
Windows Live Writer
Windows Live Writer Resources


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Proccess Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\AVG10\Identity Protection\agent\bin\avgidsmonitor.exe 000009E8
C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\AVG10\avgtray.exe 00000B88
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe 000128A8
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\WINWORD.EXE 00012334
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe 00011C7C
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe 00012B4C
C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe 00000A68
C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Plugin Manager\skypePM.exe 00000D54
C:\Program Files (x86)\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XIV\ffxivconfig.exe 0000A514
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Contacts\wlcomm.exe 00001194
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe 0000099C
C:\Users\Litos\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe 00008834
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\rundll32.exe 0000B820

Hey Guys,

I've just came across your thread. And I'm having the same problem. But I'm playing on a normal PC instead of a Laptop. Tried the Driver Sweeper stuff and changing the graphic options to the forementioned stuff.
The error's still occuring. I can't imagine what I could do else now.

The strange thing is.. that the game crashes, the error message "unable to detect" pops up and after I retstart FFXIV it works without any errors. Ah well. Maybe we'll get a solution someday. :(

Don't know why you may be having this issue becuase my gf play on a 9600 256mb lol on Standard.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aulos

Do you guys have Nvidia Optimus in your computers?

I had (I hope it is the past) the same problem and I noticed that I have Intel HD graphic card in "system information" in config despite having Nvidia card. I don't care about battery life, so I changed in bios graphic settings from Optimus to Nvidia card and it seems that problem is gone now.

Probably the game starts with Intel HD graphic card and after a while of playing graphic card changes to Nvidia. IMHO that is the moment when the game crashes with "Unable to detect DirectX device", because the old device (Intel HD) is no longer available.

---

Can you tell me how you change the bios graphic settings?

If I could I would always run on the nvidia graphics and remove intel hd all together.

Just unsure of how to change bios.

So I'm still having the same problem...

I've tried not having any other program open, disabling overclock, raising overclock, lowering graphic settings, altering graphic settings, disabling aero, running FFXIV in compatibility mode, updating drivers, using older drivers, windowed mode, full screen mode, and several other methods that I just can't remember because it has been an endless problem.

Everytime I think I've solved the issue... the error pops up again.

I noticed a new set of Beta drivers on Nvidia's site that has a lot of GPU changes. I am HOPING this is the solution. I sent SE a ticket yesterday so I will most likely hear from them this week, but I have no idea if they even know the solution. It seems to be a blame game. Nvidia blames SE, SE blames DirectX, Directx blames Nvidia. Meanwhile we're the ones screwed. Grrrrrr. I don't have high hopes for this new attempt as its happening to people with Nvidia and ATI video cards.


Anyone else have any luck with a solution?

ok guys the problem resolvs only with a UPDATE from directX.

please visit the link: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...s.aspx?id=8109

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by akemura

ok guys the problem resolvs only with a UPDATE from directX.

please visit the link: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...s.aspx?id=8109

---

Unfortunately this doesn't work. I have an M14X with a 1.5GB DDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M using NVIDIA Optimus technology and the problem for me is the dual video cards. For some reason even if you have the Nvidia set as your default card the game will switch back to the integrated card dc'ing you in the process. This can take anywhere from a couple of seconds to a couple of hours. Most of the time it's within 5 minutes or so for me.

The sad part is although you can go in and disable your Nvidia there is no option to disable the integrated card (at least not on the M14X or M17X, I'm told there is one for the M11X,) so the only work around at this point is to play directly on the integrated card exclusively. There is a new driver from Nvidia but alienware hasn't updated to support it yet, so I'm not sure it would be a fix and we're stuck on the old one for now. I downloaded it but got an incompatibility error and a tongue lashing from the alienware tech when I tried to install it.

I've spent hours on the phone with alienware support, they've uninstalled/swept/reinstalled multiple times with no improvement.

I've also had my office tech take a look at it after spending an hour trying different things, he too confirmed the only fix for now is to run off of the intergtated graphics card.

I thought turning off dwm fixed that problem with Intel IGP?

Are you running the game on full screen or windowed mode i had that directx error when i was alt+tab when in full screen now that i play in windowed no more crashes but i did notice my performence go down a little.

We've tried everything more than once. Finally after three consecutive evenings on the phone with the alienware tech he sent me an email with the following reasons for this issue and the reason it can't be fixed:

It’s a combination of features that cause this issue:

1) Directx 11 (Originally release with windows 7)

2) Final Fantasy XIV(Previous versions of the series doesn’t report an issue like this one)

3) HD 6000 card(AMD/Raedeon/ATi)series & NVidia 500 card series(The game doesn’t synchronized with optimums -Nvidia’s technology- )

So at this point I'm not sure where the fix should come from, but it looks like maybe ffxiv could do something about the synchronization issue. If anyone else has any other ideas please share them :)

Well did you try to disable DWM yet? Worked for everyone else with optimus.

i seem to get it the most running through the tunnels back and forth to/from gridania, both is full screen and windowed mode, updated directx, my graphics drivers and tried everything i can think of.

my sys info:

-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Edition 32bit (build 7600)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9400 @ 2.66GHz
Number of Processors Logical Core Count 4 Physical Core Count 4
BIOS Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Language English (Regional Setting: English)
Physical Memory 3070.555MB
Virtual Memory 2047.875MB
Page File 6139.387MB
Storage C:\ Hard Disk Drive Total Disk Space 97.559GB Free Disk Space 16.544GB
Storage D:\ Hard Disk Drive Total Disk Space 368.104GB Free Disk Space 337.179GB
DirectX Version DirectX 11
Graphic Device(s) NVIDIA GeForce GT 240
+Device \\.\DISPLAY1
+Chip GeForce GT 240
+Maker NVIDIA
+Video Memory 978.563 MB
+Shared Video Memory 1279.277 MB
+DAC Type Integrated RAMDAC
+Display Mode 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
+Driver nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
+Driver Version 8.17.0012.7533
+Driver Date 25/05/2011 07:09:05
+Driver Language English
+Vertex Shader 3.0
+Pixel Shader 3.0
+Vertex Texture Supported
Sound Device(s) Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
+Device ID {571DD823-BF02-4E5A-8FBD-E0F8136ABB6C}
+Device Name RTKVHDA.sys
+Driver Version 6.00.0001.5859
+Driver Language English
+Driver Date 23/05/2009 02:03:40
Sound Device(s) Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
+Device ID {592C461F-A963-4386-A9AE-DC22958F5ED6}
+Device Name RTKVHDA.sys
+Driver Version 6.00.0001.5859
+Driver Language English
+Driver Date 23/05/2009 02:03:40
Input Device(s) {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
+Name Mouse
+Notes Axis 3 Button 3 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
+Name Keyboard
+Notes Axis 0 Button 128 Field of View 0
Input Device(s) {B455FEC0-81A0-11E0-8001444553540000}
+Name USB Optical Mouse
+Notes Axis 0 Button 0 Field of View 0


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Application Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

AVG
CPU Meter
Clock
Unable to detect DirectX device - Page 2 - Mozilla Firefox


-=-=-=-=-=-=- Install Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

AVG 2011
Adobe Flash Player 10 Plugin
Adobe Reader X (10.1.0)
Darkspore
Dual-Core Optimizer
Duke Nukem Forever
FINAL FANTASY XI
FINAL FANTASY XI: Chains of Promathia
FINAL FANTASY XI: Rise of the Zilart
FINAL FANTASY XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan
FINAL FANTASY XI: Wings of the Goddess
FINAL FANTASY XIV
Far Cry
Far Cry 2
GPGNet
Java Auto Updater
Java(TM) 6 Update 26
Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile
Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Extended
Microsoft Games for Windows - LIVE
Microsoft Games for Windows - LIVE Redistributable
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.21022
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.17
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.4148
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable - 10.0.40219
Mozilla Firefox 5.0 (x86 en-GB)
NVIDIA 3D Vision Controller Driver
NVIDIA 3D Vision Controller Driver 275.33
NVIDIA 3D Vision Driver 275.33
NVIDIA Control Panel 275.33
NVIDIA Drivers
NVIDIA Graphics Driver 275.33
NVIDIA HD Audio Driver 1.2.23.3
NVIDIA Install Application
NVIDIA PhysX
NVIDIA PhysX System Software 9.10.0514
NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver
NVIDIA Update 1.3.5
NVIDIA Update Components
OpenOffice.org 3.2
PVSonyDll
PlayOnline Viewer & Tetra Master
Portal
Post Apocalyptic Mayhem
Quake
Quake II
Quake II: Ground Zero
Quake II: The Reckoning
Quake III Arena
Quake III: Team Arena
Quake Mission Pack 1: Scourge of Armagon
Quake Mission Pack 2: Dissolution of Eternity
Realtek High Definition Audio Driver
Spore
Steam
Steel Storm: Burning Retribution
Supreme Commander
Supreme Commander - Forged Alliance
Supreme Commander 2
System Requirements Lab
Team Fortress 2
Universe Sandbox
VLC media player 1.1.4
Warhammer® 40,000™: Dawn of War® II
WinRAR archiver
Windows Live ID Sign-in Assistant

motherboard is a Asus P5N-D, with a nVIDIA nForce 750i SLI chipset, NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 (1024 MB) graphics card, its really getting irritating

Just found a fix for this issue, but only when it is occurring under certain circumstances.
My game would give me this error and crash whenever I tried to open a program through Windows 7, wherein it would 'dim' the screen and give me a confirmation box, asking me whether or not I'd like to allow the program to "make changes" to my system.
If your game gives you the "unable to detect Directx device" error when your screen 'dims'-out like this, the fix is easy.

Control Panel > User Accounts (and Family Safety) > User Accounts > Change User Account Control Settings.
Once here, set it so that your screen doesn't dim whenever it asks for permission when opening programs.
This fixed my problem, but you could probably also go one step further and entirely disable this notification feature of Windows 7.
Just thought I'd chime in with my success on this front. Best of luck!