DirectX Problems

[All-Maker]

Hello, I recently installed The Orange Box, and upon trying to start certain games, I receive the message:

"This game has a minimum requirement of DirectX 8.0 to run properly." Specifically for Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Half Life 2: Episode 2.

Now, I understand what this means, but the only problem is that my computer is currently running DirectX 9.0c.

Also, when I try and play Episode 1, the game seems to run, but I can't do anything, and I only receive the loading screen which looks completely messed up, as in the attached file.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

 

[giant384]

not only do you need software dx8 you need to have a video card that supports dx8 or above.

 

[jpventoso]

What video card do you have?

 

[All-Maker]

Alright, so I didn't even know my own video card until I checked it. NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU.

I assume this is rather outdated.

 

[joule]

Very. Consider an upgrade.

 

[All-Maker]

Thanks, for some reason I hadn't considered the video card at all. I'll look into upgrading it.

 

[diluted]

I think the Geforce 4 MX is DX7, so there's your problem. Apparently Valve has dropped support for DX7 in the newer version of the Source engine.