when i tried to play portal for the mapping contest i got a message from steam saying "the latest version of Microsoft dirctX(r) is required to play portal" and then it brings me to a webpage to download DX10. the problem is, i don't have vista so i know it isn't compatible. what should i do to play portal?do I need vista to play it now?

You do not need Vista, you don't even need dx9. That is one weird error you are getting.

Just loaded it up and it works fine for me.

Although I did just install gears of war, witch needed me to install some .dll. It basically fooled the game into thinking I had DX10 whilst actually only have DX9 and its doing the DX10 stuff in software. At least thats what I think it was doing....

hmm, maybe i need DX9, i had it but recently my computer got messed up, and some things disappeared like internet bookmarks, and i'm not sure yet what else, i'm going to see if downloading dx9 again will work.

does anyone know a reputable site to get dx9? i cant find one on google.

-edit- never mind i found somewhere to download it

i think i must have DX9, i was playing Bioshock yesterday. so I have no idea why i need to download dx10 wheni dont even have vista. Oh well, guess im not going to vote in this contest . and it also turns out that all of my other steam games "need" DX10.

What you are saying doesn't really make any sense. I am assuming that you have a legitimate copy of Portal right?

yes i got it from gamestop, and it always worked until now

Maybe try reinstalling Portal? Maybe Steam? Have you asked on the Steam forums? Like I said, this really doesn't make any sense, I haven't heard of this issue before.

ok ill try that, thanks. I gotta go though i have school tomorrow, so i will try after and probably say what happens on this thread.

Browen wrote:
does anyone know a reputable site to get dx9? i cant find one on google.

-edit- never mind i found somewhere to download it

For future reference, Direct X is made by Microsoft, so, unless you think of Microsoft as disreputable you can always download from them.

Adair wrote:
For future reference, Direct X is made by Microsoft, so, unless you think of Microsoft as disreputable you can always download from them.

lol. i was thinking the same thing!

assuming you have a valid copy of xp here's the ms link to dx9.0c
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2da43d38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&DisplayLang=en

Also, the Source Engine only supports DX7, DX8 and DX9.. (maybe DX6)
So it doesn't make sense at all. But well, shit happens

Adair wrote:
For future reference, Direct X is made by Microsoft, so, unless you think of Microsoft as disreputable you can always download from them.

Thats where i found it,at the time I just couldnt find DX9 on their website