Direct3D functionality not available (9.0c)

[rascellian]

Hi, all. I have a bit of an unusual problem. A few days ago I started being unable to load games immediately after installing a Microsoft hotfix, and I traced the problem to my directx. It says "Direct3D functionality not available." Also, total memory is n/a and AGP is unknown.

To make a long story short, I've reformatted twice now. The last reformat I did not install the hotfix at all.

Right after a format my Direct3D is fine, and I can load games. At some unknown point after that it just messes up again. Every time it is after doing Microsoft updates, but since I did an automatic install of critical updates today I cannot peg which one is the problem--if it is any of them.

Sorry to write a novel, but I've been troubleshooting this for almost a week now, and I'm lost. I don't see how it could be my card or motherboard, because after reformatting everything is fine. It's after an undetermined amount of time that the problem reoccurs. On the other hand, I can't find one common software factor causing it either.

I have completely reinstalled the card. I am using directx 9.0c and the latest card drivers. In the bios it is set to AGP, not PCI. I have also reseated the card and cleaned out the AGP slot.

Below I have pasted some select dxdiag and system information. Any advice is very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 11/6/2005, 02:50:54
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.050301-1526)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: ECS
System Model: P4S5A/DX+
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz, ~2.4GHz
Memory: 1280MB RAM
Page File: 147MB used, 2908MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0904 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found. Direct3D functionality not available. You should verify that the driver is a final version from the hardware manufacturer.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4400
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce4 Ti 4400
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0251&SUBSYS_87101462&REV_A2
Display Memory: n/a
Current Mode: 1152 x 864 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 955DF(T)
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8185 (English)
DDI Version: unknown
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 3921024 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 3530432 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4111-11CF-2B68-1AA703C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0251
SubSys ID: 0x87101462
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Video Accel:
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Not Available
D3D Status: Not Available
AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

--------------
System Devices
--------------
Name: PCI GDIHOOK5
Device ID: ROOT\DISPLAY\0000
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\gdihook5.sys, 5.02.3663.0000 (English), 3/7/2003 08:00:00, 24576 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\gdihook5.dll, 5.02.3663.0000 (English), 3/7/2003 08:00:00, 22528 bytes

Name: NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4400
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0251&SUBSYS_87101462&REV_A2\4&3525EC23&0&0008
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\nv4_mini.sys, 6.14.0010.8185 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 3530432 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nv4_disp.dll, 6.14.0010.8185 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 3921024 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe, 6.14.0010.8185 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 131139 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvhwvid.dll, 6.14.0010.8185 (), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 573440 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvapi.dll, 6.14.0010.8185 (), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 45056 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvoglnt.dll, 6.14.0010.8185 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 5378048 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvcpl.dll, 6.14.0010.8185 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 7286784 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvmctray.dll, 6.14.0010.8185 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 86016 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvwddi.dll, 6.14.0010.8185 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 81920 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvnt4cpl.dll, 6.14.0010.11005 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 286720 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvmccs.dll, 6.14.0010.8185 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 229376 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\help\nvcpl.hlp, 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 169507 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\help\nvwcplen.hlp, 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 55444 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvcod.dll, 1.00.0000.0033 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 34304 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvcodins.dll, 1.00.0000.0033 (English), 10/10/2005 21:49:00, 34304 bytes

 

[Osiris]

If I were you, Id try to upgrade to SP2. There are a lot of fixes in there