Enabling Directdraw for Halo Combat Evolved on Windows 7

Dexterity Cubed

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Nov 17, 2013
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10,510
Hey,
I am a fan of the Halo series and I recently decided to pick up the original Halo again. After installation I tried to run the program and I got this message "problem occured initializing DirectDraw. Hardware acceleration maybe disabled, please run DXDIAG"
After running DXDIAG I got this:
http://puu.sh/77Nam.png
I can't seem to find where to change the settings to enable Directdraw acceleration. I have a GTX Titan and my full specs are here:
http://puu.sh/77Nxe.png
If you know of a forum post that has a solution or you know the solution, help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dex

Edit: I do want to make a note that I do use the 3D capabilities with my Titan (ie playing games in 3d). I'm not sure if it makes a difference I just want to put it out there.
 
Solution
Okay, I know this sounds like a standard, cheesy answer, but, install/update DirectX: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Also install Direct 9.0c since this an old game which most likely requires old DirectX: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34429

This won't overwrite or break the new DirectX or anything btw.

Then after all that right click on desktop, go to screen resolution, then in that window click advanced settings.
Then go to the Troubleshoot tab, and make sure the hardware acceleration is set to full.

And actually you might do that first in case you accidentally have it off, but doesn't hurt to update DirectX.

Then see if it still has the same error. (you could also check and...

ratchet256

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Nov 7, 2010
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18,660
Okay, I know this sounds like a standard, cheesy answer, but, install/update DirectX: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Also install Direct 9.0c since this an old game which most likely requires old DirectX: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34429

This won't overwrite or break the new DirectX or anything btw.

Then after all that right click on desktop, go to screen resolution, then in that window click advanced settings.
Then go to the Troubleshoot tab, and make sure the hardware acceleration is set to full.

And actually you might do that first in case you accidentally have it off, but doesn't hurt to update DirectX.

Then see if it still has the same error. (you could also check and see if your video card drivers are up to date but I would hope that's obvious)
 
Solution

Dexterity Cubed

Honorable
Nov 17, 2013
13
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10,510


Thanks for the help :D. I installed the old version of Direct X but that didn't seem to fix it.

After doing some research I'm certain that Halo wont run because my hardware acceleration is off. When I got into the settings menu like you suggested, the change settings button is grayed out. I think this is caused by my nvidia graphics card.

http://puu.sh/7cySU.jpg

Thanks again for the help. If you have any suggestions as to how I can get access to the settings menu I'm open for anything.
 

ratchet256

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Nov 7, 2010
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Ah, yes. It's the same way for me with my Radeon HD 7770. Though I'm fortunate enough to have it all enabled already. http://imgur.com/piuscm6

Searching the web some more I see you also made a thread here: https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/694912/enabling-directdraw-for-halo-combat-evolved-on-windows-7/?offset=2

Did you try that dxcpl.exe? That should help, I tried it, there should be an option for hardware acceleration under DirectDraw under performance(http://imgur.com/DKmlNgy), mine was checked. But just to test I unchecked it and hit apply and, surely enough: http://imgur.com/JpygbWZ

VERY interesting, never knew that thing existed. Very cool. Anyway, that should do it. Don't know why AMD and Nvidia can't make this easier to access :/
 

Dexterity Cubed

Honorable
Nov 17, 2013
13
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10,510


Thanks for trying to help :D for some reason my dxcpl.exe menu is completely different from yours. My menu is missing five of the six tabs (probably nvidia's doings)

http://puu.sh/7e70z.pnghttp://

My friend and I are going to look for drivers that might give me access to the tabs you see.
I can't thank you enough and if you have any other ideas, I'm all ears
 

Dexterity Cubed

Honorable
Nov 17, 2013
13
0
10,510
I found the solution. My OS was corrupted on installation giving me a faulty version of dxcpl.exe. Upon re-installation I was allowed to enable hardware acceleration. When I ran the program and I got an "Not enough RAM" error but it still RAM.
Thanks again for the help.

P.S. Ratchet I forgot to mention this but nice system shock picture