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When I bought Spore and installed it on my computer, it worked fine. Then two days ago a corrupt file forced me to reset the computer back to factory settings after which Spore will no longer work. When I go to Games on Windows Vista, and try to run Spore, I get the following message: "This application has failed to start because d30X9_27 was not found. Reinstalling may fix this problem," It didn't. I removed Spore and reinstalled it again and added the 1.2 patch and I still get the same message. What I don't understand is why it worked before windows crashed the first time and will not work now. I'm using the same version of windows with service pack 2 which it worked ok with before so what has happened? The only programs that I added was a Cyber anti virus spyware program, and I shut it and the other programs down before I loaded the program and also when I run it. The new Spore trainer worked on installing it. No problems with a launch there. Since this program is listed in the "Games, Game explorer section," I can't run it as an adminstator program or anything else.
Can anyone out there help me with this?

I think i know what is the prob try instaling the dirctx from the spore disc.

Thanks7 but,unfortunately, I can't do that. Windows Vista uses DX10 and to my knoweledge, DX9 will not work with Vista.

1) fully uninstall game - only keep your saves/creatures if you REALLY want them

2) shutdown, wait a few, reboot

3) fully update your OS....see if there are updates for dx (whatever version you are runing) - maybe try the DX SDK (it has extra stuff that is sometimes useful but not included with the normal DX) update ALL hardware drivers (not always a good thing...sometimes some things DO get worse, so keep the "previous" driver handy - and make sure to get a driver cleaner software)

you may have to reboot a few times durring all this

4) shutdown, wait a few, reboot

5) install game (restoring your saves/creatures if needed)

6) shutdown, wait a few, reboot

7) play game (hopfully)


note: the shutdowns are probably nessecary - dont simply do a restart or standby or log off, and by a few I mean atleast 1 minute

edit: oh...and be sure after step 4 to go back to the begining of step 3 incase there are incremental updates - stupid microsoft...i want all my updates at once

[Edited by MJALowe, 10/23/2008 8:22:00 PM]

It will work ihad a vista ultm and it worked the only thing didn't work is te video draiver plus it's combatible with the 10 unlike OS xp.

[Edited by 07, 10/24/2008 7:24:04 AM]

You can install DX9 on Vista without a problem. DX10 is a separate entity to DX9. If a program supports DX10 it will of course try that first, but many games do not use it and in fact require DX9 runtimes or they will not run properly. (Usually resulting in the very compatibility problems you've been having.)

In short, yes you can run the DX9 setup from the disc. It won't break anything.

Oh, and do some reading. There's a VERY good reason most game developers don't give a fig about DX10.

[Edited by nephilim, 10/24/2008 1:08:35 PM]

Thanks 07, Majalowe, and Nephilim for the advice. I reinstalled Spore and after signing the ok let it go ahead with Direct X 9. It seemed nothing happened except that screen stayed up for a few seconds and then informed me that Direct X components had been updatted. When I ran the game again, it worked. Oh, and yes, I'm no fan of either DX10 or Windows Vista for that matter. Both seem to leave a lot to be desired in my opinion. Anyhow, thanks again guys, maybe I can return the favor someday.