How to Install Direct3D

By Kefa Olang

Direct3D is a 3-D graphics component included in the DirectX application. It is a tool used for manipulating and displaying 3-D images and is essential for playing PC games and running animation programs. Direct3D allows programmers to create 3-D images that work seamlessly with your video card. To install Direct3D, you must first install DirectX. This process is simple, and within minutes you can begin running your 3-D games or applications.

Go to the DirectX download page (see Resources). Direct3D is a component installed through DirectX. Select your Internet connection speed on the download page, and click "Download." Click "Run," and click "Run" again to launch the installation wizard.

Click "I accept the agreement" after reading the terms and conditions. Click "Next," and click "Next" again to download and install the application. Click "Finish" once the installation is complete.

Enable Direct3D after installing DirectX. To do so, click the Windows "Start" button and click "Run" (Windows XP users) or "Start Search" (Windows Vista users). Type "dxdiag" (without quotation marks), and press "Enter" to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Click the "Display" tab. Click "Enabled" under "Direct3D acceleration" to enable the component. Click "Save all information," and click "Exit" to close the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Direct3D is installed and enabled.

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