Why is direct x not covered by Windows update?

[Maguscreed]

This is something that as a gamer I have been bothered about for a few years now. To this day I have never received a direct x update via windows update. It's always been me manually downloading it.

I realize they do package the redist with many new games, but I'm asking why there is a need for that?

Basically I'm asking for someone to remind me why packaging this as a redistributable has been chosen over the simplicity of windows update in this case.
The odds of a direct x update causing problems are pretty remote. No more so than any other update.

 

[Maguscreed]

Love how not only does anyone have any input. No one seems to know. Even the guys at MS.

 

[Roderunner]

Hi you got a reply.
Every time I install an OS, I use this to install DirectX View attachment dxwebsetup.zip

 

[arkhi]

Good point. It should be added with WinUpdate.

 

[Neochrome]

Hi you got a reply.
Every time I install an OS, I use this to install DirectX View attachment 203393

Wait, I have W7U SP1 64bit and my dxdiag shows DirectX 11 version 6.01.7601.17514. According to DirectX - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , it is latest version on Windows 7. But when I run that dxwebsetup.exe you posted here in this thread, it finds some installation to download (98,2 MB). I did not installed it, so I do not know what version it is. Is the dxwebsetup.exe linked to only one version of DirectX, or it searches internet for latest version and compares it to what I have installed on PC?

I tried it on my netbook (Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit, no service pack), dxdiag says DirectX 11 version 6.01.7600.16385, what, according to Wikipedia, is the latest version on non service pack Windows 7, and your program said "This or the later version of DirectX is already installed on your computer. Installation is not needed."

I am really confused now.

 

[M1GU31]

doesn't windows 7 come with direct x in it already, I could be wrong but i think the direct x from Microsoft is just a updated new version. If im wrong let me know

 

[GeneO]

I always wondered that too. Good question.

 

[Roderunner]

It can be read about here. Download: DirectX End-User Runtime - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details

 

[Shamone]

I have latest Direct X 11.. I've never updated manually, i"m sure I had it updated on windows update, more info here
How to download and install DirectX

 

[Maguscreed]

Your still missing my point, it's more about why it isn't included automatically.
Many people that game get the redist with the game cd sure. I'm just wondering why?

Also, I hate to put it this way but...

lolz @ 11.1
it has all the wonders and thrills we got from the awesome 10.1
(namely being depriving you of more money)

I will say it's brilliant marketing strategy though.

 

[NoelDP]

DirectX has been included in Windows since before the release of XP.
The last version of Windows to be released with Dx9 was XP - Vista had Dx10, and Win7 has Dx11. Win8 has Dx12
All are backwards-compatible with Dx9
The problem is software related - earlier software may only be able to cope with the Dx version it was designed for. You may be able to run such software in Compatibility mode - which will switch the Dx version back to the one appropriate for that OS.

There is no point in attempting to install Dx9 in a later system - all you do is run the risk of corrupting that system.

 

[Maguscreed]

DirectX has been included in Windows since before the release of XP.
The last version of Windows to be released with Dx9 was XP - Vista had Dx10, and Win7 has Dx11. Win8 has Dx12
All are backwards-compatible with Dx9
The problem is software related - earlier software may only be able to cope with the Dx version it was designed for. You may be able to run such software in Compatibility mode - which will switch the Dx version back to the one appropriate for that OS.

There is no point in attempting to install Dx9 in a later system - all you do is run the risk of corrupting that system.

Is this something that you have intimate knowledge of?
Because dx 9 is actually at version 9c, and has in fact received revisions and updates that some games and even graphics drivers look for now. These changes have occured since the release of windows 7, in fact several were made last year.
The way dx9 is handled in vista and win 7 would be more akin to an emulation mode. You still want the updated files though.

Direct x has not been so static since version 9 went up to 9c , and then continued to receive updates afterwards. Actually come to think of it, there was an 8.1 if memory serves to.
Rule of thumb for video/graphic editing, and gaming is generally to have everything even if you aren't using it. I have physx installed on my ati system. Why? because it makes certain games load faster when they check and see the files there. In a couple of cases it solved crashes.

This is the obligatory sentence I now spend making a case against proprietary ahem, bull substance software, like what nvidia has pulled with physx

That's getting a tad off base though.

 

[NoelDP]

From the download page for the Dx9c update.
<quote>
Note that the DirectX Runtime (Direct3D, DirectInput, DirectSound) is not part of this package as it is included as part of the Windows operating system, and therefore cannot be installed or uninstalled. Updating the DirectX Runtime is achieved by installing the latest Service Pack or obtaining a newer version of Windows.
</quote>

 

[Neochrome]

From the download page for the Dx9c update.
<quote>
Note that the DirectX Runtime (Direct3D, DirectInput, DirectSound) is not part of this package as it is included as part of the Windows operating system, and therefore cannot be installed or uninstalled. Updating the DirectX Runtime is achieved by installing the latest Service Pack or obtaining a newer version of Windows.
</quote>

I have read it yesterday too. Then why do I need to download it, when I already have it on Win7Ultimate? Also, file that you can download there is called DirectX End-User Runtimes installer but "DirectX Runtime is not part of this package as it is included as part of the Windows operating system, blah blah blah". I do not really understand this verbalism.
To DirectX being updated regularly, that redist package we are talking here about is from June 2010 (DirectX End-User Runtimes - June 2010), that seems to be the latest change in DX. You can see it in the folder you extract files from "directx_Jun2010_redist.exe" (95.6 MB) you can download here in case you don't have internet connection during instalation from web installer. In the folder the latest of *.cab archives are named "Jun2010....cab".
Then again, why do I need this redist package, when my system is clearly the same age or younger and should include it already??

 

[NoelDP]

Like I said - you don't.
Last time I installed a Dx9 update was the Dx9c update in XP - about a year ago, on a fresh install.

 

[Neochrome]

Like I said - you don't.
Last time I installed a Dx9 update was the Dx9c update in XP - about a year ago, on a fresh install.

Yeah I suppose. But why that DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer determined that I need it, and started downloading it? I checked and it did not change anything in DxDiag tool after installation. I hate these vague things about software/drivers updates... pfff