Just and update and in case anyone else is having the same problem:
I attempted to update/re install directx drivers. This did not work as my system already had the latest drivers. However, I found out my Nvidia graphics drivers were out of date. Unfortunately, Nvidia's driver programming is as horrible as their hardware. I could not get the program to recognize my video card without doing some programming within the inf files myself. Here is a detailed list of what I did in the event someone else out there is having the same issues updating their Nvidia graphics drivers, and the drivers program will not recognize your video card:
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When running the NVIDIA Install Program I got the error:
NVIDIA Installer cannot continue
This graphics driver could not find compatible graphics hardware
The reason for this error is that the specific device ID for your graphics card does not show up in any of the INF setup files. More on this later.
The way around this is to manually add your device ID to the INF file so it shows up when the setup programs checks for "compatible hardware"
Steps:
1. Get your device ID: click on CONTROL PANEL, then CLICK on SYSTEM, then CLICK on DEVICE MANAGER
2. Under Other Devices/ (or if your video card already has a driver under Display Adapter) click on Video Adapter
3. Click on Details, Device Instance Id should already be selected
4. You will see something similar to this:
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_20421043&REV_A1\ 4&30DE1B
This has the detail about your specific video card maker, chipset and model
For instance in my system
VEN_10DE tells me the Vendor is 10DE which is the Vendor ID for NVIDIA
DEV_0DD1 tells me the Chipset is 0DD1 which is the Chipset GTX 460M
SUBSYS_20421043 tells me that this is the Specific MODEL GTX 460M in the Asus 73JW Laptop
5. If you haven't already done so then MANUALLY Download the latest NVIDIA driver for your video card from the NVIDIA website and run the install program. It will give your the error : "This graphics driver could not find compatible graphics hardware" Don't Panic.
6. GOTO the install directory. The default will be something like:
c:\nvidia\DisplayDriver\275.50\WinXP\ English\Display.Driver\
or
c:\nvidia\DisplayDriver\260.63\WinXP\ International\Display.Driver\
7. there will be many INF files there of the type:
nvaa.inf
nvac.inf
nvam.inf
nvao.inf
nvbl.inf
etc...
8. Pick any one of them (I picked nvam.inf) and make a backup copy then open the original in NOTEPAD or your favourite text editor
9. Scroll down until you see lines like:
[NVIDIA_Devices.NTx86.5.1]
%NVIDIA_DEV.0405.01% = Section001, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0405&SUBSYS_15D21043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0405.02% = Section001, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0405&SUBSYS_16341043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0407.01% = Section001, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_080117FF
%NVIDIA_DEV.0407.02% = Section002, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_15881043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0407.03% = Section003, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_16181043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0407.04% = Section004, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_16321043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0407.05% = Section001, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_17A21043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0407.06% = Section005, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_3D7B17AA
%NVIDIA_DEV.0408.01% = Section001, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0408&SUBSYS_19021043
These files are for the most part listed BY the four digit HEXidecimal number that appears after DEV.
10. NOW CAREFULLY scroll down to the section that is similar to your chipset / DEV number
%NVIDIA_DEV.0CB1.01% = Section041, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0CB1&SUBSYS_203C1043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DEE.02% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DEE&SUBSYS_15621043
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DEE.04% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DEE&SUBSYS_15A21043
11. Take a look at this pattern. You will make a DEVICE ID for your Video Adapter and insert it here
The first part is the same for everyone:
%NVIDIA_DEV.
From Step 4
my DEV is 0DD1
so my device id so far is:
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01%
NOTE: id there is already DEVs same as yours then your line will be the next increment ie...
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.02%, or %NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.03%, etc
for the section just make it the same as the section where you're inserting it so I have:
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01% = Section042,
the next part is the same for everyone so you will have:
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_
add the rest (your DEV and SUBSYS numbers) so it matches your DEVICE ID and your finished device ID should look similar to this:
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_20421043
12. NOW SCROLL DOWN to the [Strings] section it will look like this:
[Strings]
DiskID1 = "NVIDIA Windows 2000/XP (32 bit) Driver Library Installation Disk 1"
NVIDIA = "NVIDIA"
NVIDIA_DEV.0405.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS"
NVIDIA_DEV.0405.02 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS "
NVIDIA_DEV.0407.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT"
NVIDIA_DEV.0407.02 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT "
NVIDIA_DEV.0407.03 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT "
NVIDIA_DEV.0407.04 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT "
NVIDIA_DEV.0407.05 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT "
NVIDIA_DEV.0407.06 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT "
Same as before add a line in for your Video card:
NVIDIA_DEV.0CB1.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M"
NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M - KAPs INF MOD"
NVIDIA_DEV.0DEE.02 = "NVIDIA GeForce GT 415M "
NVIDIA_DEV.0DEE.04 = "NVIDIA GeForce GT 415M "
NOTE: id there is already DEVs same as yours then your line will be the next increment ie...
NVIDIA_DEV.0CB1.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M"
NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M"
NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.02 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M - KAPs INF MOD"
NVIDIA_DEV.0DEE.02 = "NVIDIA GeForce GT 415M "
NVIDIA_DEV.0DEE.04 = "NVIDIA GeForce GT 415M "
13. SAVE FILE
14. If you have the file ListDevices.txt open it and add a line under the appropriate section
15. GO back and manually run setup.exe from where the NVIDIA files where extracted:
NOTE: DO NOT RUN THE DOWNLOADED APPLICATION OR YOUR WILL OVERWRITE EVERYTHING YOU'VE JUST DONE!
For Example Your setup program may be here:
c:\nvidia\DisplayDriver\260.63\WinXP\ International\setup.exe
THATS IT YOUR DRIVER WILL BE INSTALLED...ENJOY
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So, it was not a DirectX issue but rather a video driver issue. Also, do not purchase Nvidia hardware unless you don't mind constantly having to edit their lousy programming files.
Game on