Windows 7: DirectX is not working, affects several programs

Hello,

When I go to the startup menu and go to run, and type in "dxdiag" and hit enter, I get an error message saying:

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\d3d11.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact yoru system administrator or the software vendor for support.

After I press ok, I get another message saying:

Error: Could not load dxdiagn.dll

When I try to download directx and install again, I get a message that says a newer or equivalent version of directx is already on my PC. How can I repair directx?



I am on windows 7 home premium. I checked and I have the latest drivers for my graphics card and other components.


After running

I got this output:


Here is the output file: http://andydaykin.com/CBS.log

Until the experts get here , did you run SFC 3 times as suggested?

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

A Guy

One of several entries in the CBS.log file:
DirectX 11 is built into Windows 7, so there's no repairing that individual component.

I've attached a copy of the file from my Windows 7 SP1 64 bit system (as with any unknown file, scan it with an antivirus BEFORE opening it!!!). My file is version 6.1.7601.17514 also, so there shouldn't be any version conflicts.
To replace the current d3d11.dll file:
- make a system restore point (in case things go awry, it'll help you get back into Windows)
- rename the current file from d3d11.dll to d3d11.BAK (located in the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ directory)
- then extract attached file and copy it into the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ directory (it may not even work, but it's easier than the alternative).
- search the system for other copies of this file (I have 2 different sizes and 4 copies of the file on my system). This is just in case we have to replace the other sized file.

The alternative is a repair install of Windows 7. Instructions are here: Repair Install

Thanks for giving me the d3d11.dll, that was able to fix the problem with directx. I'm also having an issue with GDI and C:\Windows\System32\WindowsCodecs.dll do you have files for those as well?

Also, I tried the repair install and that didn't work, can't remember the error message, but when windows rebooted after it finished I got a message saying that windows reverted to the previous version and the repair installation didn't complete.

I have no idea about why it didn't work. I haven't tried a repair install since SP1 came out - preferring to reinstall rather than repair. I'd post a separate query in the forums.

The only GDI dll I found was gdi32.dll. Both DLL's are in the attached gdi32.zip package.
These come from my C:\Windows\System32 folder - not from the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ directory

I uploaded another set (with 2 extra dll's) from the SYSWOW64 directory labelled gdiplusSYSWOW64.zip and it's attached below.

FYI - I had a problem with DLL's at work yesterday, resulting in only the 2nd time that I've manually replaced dll's in my career (and I've only suggested it a few times on the forums). While doing this (on a heavily infected machine) I noticed that there were a number of 0 byte sized dll's in the System32 folder. And they related to the errors that I'd been receiving (both on screen and in Event Viewer). I suspect that this is a result of the malware infections - so I suggest scanning your system with a couple of these free antivirus scans: Free Online AntiMalware Resources

I just started having a very similar problem as the original post. I was using Windows Live Movie Maker and working on a tribute to my sister who passed. I decided (wrong thing to do) to update and downloaded Windows Live Essentials (newer update of Movie Maker). Then, movie maker would not start up. Reinstalled several times. Then tried dxdiag in Run command. And, I have the exact same error except it is the dxgi.dll I uninstalled Windows Live Essentials. Did many scans. And, am wondering what to do next? I have an ACER aspire 1430z.

mjn - Please start your own topic so that it can get the individual attention that it deserves.