Direct3D and NeoMagic MagicGraph256AV

[Heather McCartney]

I have successfully downloaded and installed DirectX 9.0c, but when I run the DirectX diagnostic tool I find that under "Display" DirectDraw Acceleration is enabled but Direct3D Acceleration is not available. Is this something to do with the driver? Does anyone know what can I do about it?

Thanks,
Heather

[hudsonsmith]

Welcome to windrivers Heather. What is the make/model of the notebook you are experiencing the problem with? What version of windows are you running?

[Heather McCartney]

Thanks for the quick reply. It's a Dell Latitude CPi A, running Windows 2000.

[hudsonsmith]

I did some googling, and your problem is apparently common. There is apparently some disagreement as to whether direct 3d is supported at all, but I found at least one person who claimed to have it working previously. My suggestion would be to make sure you have the latest version of the video driver (not very recent, as neomagic has exited that business):
http://support.dell.com/support/down...leaseid=R22194
and the latest bios:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...leaseid=R36131

Unfortunately, if the driver does not provide direct3d support, there is no way to add it.

[Heather McCartney]

Thanks for the suggestions. I downloaded the latest video driver, but unfortunately it hasn't solved the problem.

I'm having some problems updating the BIOS because my laptop doesn't have a floppy disk drive. I've found some instructions for doing it from a CD at http://www.bay-wolf.com/bootcd.htm but can't follow this up immediately, as you need administrator access to another PC with a floppy disk drive, CD drive and Nero.

Thanks again for your help. If I can manage to figure out a way of reinstalling the BIOS before my 1-day pass for this site runs out, I'll let you know what effect that has.

[confus-ed]

..Thanks again for your help. If I can manage to figure out a way of reinstalling the BIOS before my 1-day pass for this site runs out, I'll let you know what effect that has.

So huh ? we do time limited support now ? .. even I'm not so confus-ed as to think that - Here in the forums the help is free & unlimited .. (or as long as you keep asking stuff, somebody will try & answer ) What Scott & windrivers might want to charge you for access to the driver database built up over the years here, is another matter entirely !!! ( but I really hadn't better get started on that particular issue, or I'll be upsetting certain folks )

[renegade9797]

Dear Heather
I am having the very same problem, and I have the very same notebook. So anything that you find out I would be interested in hearing about.

[renegade9797]

I just finish installing both updates that are listed in one of the replies, but it doesn't enable the direct3d acceleration function.

[confus-ed]

I just finish installing both updates that are listed in one of the replies, but it doesn't enable the direct3d acceleration function.

So if you have the video card named in the opening post it doesn't support 3d acceleration at all - only 2d (I was answering another question on this same adapter the other day so I'm as confident as I ever get that this is so) , any support for that you can get at all will be done by software & if that s/w tells you not (here directx) then you are SOL .. sorry - the jist is your kit is too old for this feature to work ..

[renegade9797]

So if you have the video card named in the opening post it doesn't support 3d acceleration at all - only 2d (I was answering another question on this same adapter the other day so I'm as confident as I ever get that this is so) , any support for that you can get at all will be done by software & if that s/w tells you not (here directx) then you are SOL .. sorry - the jist is your kit is too old for this feature to work ..

Thanks Confus-ed, I appreciate the reply. Have a good one.