WoWdesktop is crashing my EQ2 game - d3d9.dll errors

from Stardock Forums

I have played EQ2 for a while.  I recently re-formatted my PC and installed pretty much just eq2, and then I sold my PC to my good friend.  The only two things he did to it was install WOW and also installed the World of Warcraft Desktop Theme to change his windows appearance.  (XP Media Center, 2gb ram, 256mb video card).

I kept EQ2 on so I could play when I am here, but I notice that if I have the wowdesktop theme applied, then if I go alt-enter in eq2 to go to windowed mode, then when I hit ALT-ENTER a 2nd time to return to full screen, the game crashes with an error about d3d9.dll.

Before we narrowed it down to the desktop theme, I updated all video drivers and re-installed directx.  I then tried another user account and it worked fine, so I applied the wow theme to that user and the problem showed up there.  I can apply the xp default theme and it works fine again.

I was posting here since the theme is based on Stardocks DesktopX.  I have re-downloaded the theme and re-installed with no luck.

Although I do find it humourous that the WOW theme causes eq2 to crash when returning to full screen mode, I do not think that was the intention when it was created.

Is there an update for either the stardock component, or perhaps the WOW theme addon, that will prevent it from crashing with a d3d9.dll error.  Any help is greatly appreciated.  It only took me a few weeks to figure out exactly what the problem was, lol!

desktopx
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

I hate to laugh but it is prety humerous...WoW eats Eq2..oh noes!

But in all seriousness, i believe the d3d9.dll is a directx file giving directx functionality for 3d applications such as games.It sounds like this might be corrupted missing or in conflict. Are you using Windowblinds or skinstudio or my colors to install the theme? Where is your wow and eq directory (all or either in your c:/public folders?). It almost sounds like that user profile is somehow missing the d3d9.dll file required. What is the exact error message?

Someone more knowledgeable may be able to give a speficic resolution but after creating a restor point and backing your stuff up, you might try to download a new d3d9.dll file from the web. It could just be one of those funny querks with Stardock programs (my favorite is when i have a theme or skin applied i cannot open adobe photoshop full screne, if i do all the buttons and tools are greyed out and i cannot use the program...however, when i switch out of full screen and manually resize the window all is well :) )

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The Stardock Created WoW theme is a stand alone installer and is now several years old. That is to say that is has not recieved the updates that Object Desktop has gotten with regards to XP service pack 3, Vista, and 32bit vs. 64bit. There has been some public out cry for an update to the theme but when I asked it was stated that if we were to do an update it would a total overhaul.

I wish there was some bit of advice I could give you here but the software is dated and from reading your post you have done what I would have suggested. You could always try to uninstall the theme, restart, and reinstall it again to see if some how your files were corupted.

If that does not work though and you are interested in skinning your desktop still I would suggest WindowBlinds and then use some of the created content on Wincustomize.com.

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Yeah it is pretty funny.  It's almost a clean install of Windows, and all I have to do to get the game to work correctly is to open WORLD OF WARCRAFT DESKTOP and just apply another theme (the XP default theme works great) then the game functions fine, with or without going full screen and back.  If I apply the WOW desktop theme, it crashes eq2 but only when eq2 is returning from windowed mode to full screen.

I have checked for missing or corrupt d3d9.dll but its in the \windows\system32 folder and it is current and up to date.  I have tried replacing it with another copy or one from one of those DLL download sites, but also uninstalling and re-installing directx should have replaced it if corrupt.  This only happens when WOW DESKTOP THEME is applied, so I am guessing the theme itself hangs onto the d3d9.dll and does not release properly to play with other applications.  And as stated, the WOW DESKTOP THEME is a standalone based on STARDOCKX and since isn't as up to date as some of the other apps, it may not be possible for me to get it working unless there was a complete overhaul done.  Too bad you can't just replaced the stardockx components in it and leave all else as is.  I will look into windows blinds or something else and see if I can find a similarly done desktop theme.  The theme is actually on my friends computer now since I sold it to him, and I am the one who plays eq2 (he plays wow) so it really won't matter, I'll be the one who has to remember not to go into windowed mode while playing on his PC (and if I do, I will have to remain WINDOWED or else face a crash lol) but it I do manage to find any way around this that does not require a theme overhaul, I will let you know.

It is funny that eq2 is all that we have noticed, but I wonder if the same dll will have problems with other games as he installs more.  I hope not, but at least we have an idea of what to look at first!

Thanks for the replies!

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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