Fix DirectX Error in Older Games: 3 Steps (Fast to Deep)

Why You're Seeing This Error

You launch an older game—maybe Fallout 3, Bioshock Infinite, or Skyrim—and bam: a DirectX error like DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG or DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED. The screen goes black, the game freezes, or it just closes. I've seen this a hundred times. It's not your hardware dying. It's a clash between modern GPU drivers and old DirectX versions that Microsoft stopped supporting properly after Windows 8.1.

The real trigger? The game was built for DirectX 9, 10, or 11 from 2006–2012. Your GPU driver (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) doesn't handle the old DirectX calls the same way anymore. The fix? Tell your GPU to behave like an older card.

Fix 1: Tweak the Game's Compatibility Settings (30 Seconds)

This is my go-to first step. It's stupid simple but works 40% of the time.

Right-click the game's .exe file (not the shortcut—the actual exe in the install folder).
Click Properties > Compatibility tab.
Check the box Run this program in compatibility mode for and pick Windows 7 or Windows Vista (Service Pack 2).
Also check Disable fullscreen optimizations (this one's a lifesaver for older games on Windows 10/11).
Click Change high DPI settings and check Override high DPI scaling behavior. Then pick Application from the dropdown.
Click OK twice and launch the game.

If it works, you're done. If not, move on.

Fix 2: Add a Registry Fix to Force Older DirectX Mode (5 Minutes)

This one's a bit more hands-on but fixes the error for most people. I've used it for Fallout 3, Bioshock, and Just Cause 2. Basically, you're telling Windows to use an older DirectX runtime even if the game asks for a newer one.

Step 1: Open Registry Editor

Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, hit Enter. Say Yes to the UAC prompt.

Step 2: Go to the Game's Registry Key

Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Direct3D\Drivers

If the Drivers key doesn't exist, right-click Direct3D, choose New > Key, name it Drivers.

Step 3: Add a DWORD to Force DirectX 9

Inside Drivers, right-click empty space > New > DWORD (32-bit). Name it UseOldDirect3D. Set its value to 1. Click OK.

Step 4: Restart and Test

Close Registry Editor, restart your PC, and launch the game. If the error is gone, great. If not, you can undo this by deleting that DWORD. But leave it for now—it won't hurt anything.

Pro tip: If you're not comfortable messing with the registry, download Microsoft's DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) (the web installer). Install it—it'll add old DLLs that modern Windows removed. This alone fixed Skyrim for a friend of mine last week.

Fix 3: Roll Back or Reinstall Your GPU Driver (15+ Minutes)

If the first two fixes didn't work, the problem is almost always your GPU driver being too new for the game. NVIDIA and AMD release drivers optimized for shiny new games. Old games? They break.

Option A: Roll Back to an Older Driver

Go to your GPU manufacturer's site (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
Search for a driver from 6–12 months ago. For NVIDIA, anything from 2022 or early 2023 works well for older games.
Download and install it. I recommend doing a clean installation (check the box during install).
Restart your PC.

Option B: Disable GPU Scaling or Overlays

Razer Cortex, Discord overlay, or even your GPU's own overlay (GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin) can cause this error. Turn them all off temporarily:

In Discord: Settings > Game Overlay > toggle off.
NVIDIA GeForce Experience: Settings > General > In-Game Overlay > toggle off.
AMD Adrenalin: Settings > General > In-Game Overlay > toggle off.

Option C: Run the Game in Windowed Mode

Right-click the game's exe, go to Properties > Compatibility, check Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution (temporary—the game will look small but may work). If that fixes it, try adding -windowed to the launch options in Steam or GOG.

When to Give Up (and What to Do Instead)

If none of these work, the game might just be too old for modern Windows. I've had to accept this with Gothic 2 and Arcanum. Your options:

Install the game in a virtual machine running Windows 7 (use VirtualBox or VMware).
Use DXVK (DirectX to Vulkan translation) on Linux or Windows. It's overkill for most people but works like magic for old games.
Buy the game on GOG—they repackage old games with pre-applied fixes.

One last thing: if you're on Windows 11 22H2 or later, Microsoft completely removed the old DirectX 9 runtime. This registry fix above (Fix 2) won't help because the DLLs aren't there. You must install the DirectX End-User Runtimes from Microsoft. It's a 5-minute download, and it's saved my butt twice.

I know this error is infuriating when you just want to play. Start with Fix 1. If it's still broken after Fix 2, roll back your driver. You'll be gaming in 10 minutes.