# Beta Directdraw Expired. Pl,ease Update

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beta-directdraw-expired-pl-ease-update/83098>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 21, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beta-directdraw-expired-pl-ease-update/83098 "2001-09-21T21:32:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Stupendous\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Stupendous\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stupendous_man)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beta-directdraw-expired-pl-ease-update/83098/1 "2001-09-21T21:32:18Z")

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I was helping a fellow who keeps getting this error under WIndows ME.

He has done the following already:

Reinstalled DirectX  
Removed DirectX with DirectXBuster and Reinstalled DIrectX  
REstarted in safe mode and reinstalled it.

Nothing works. What are his options to get rid of this error, without reformating his hard drive and reinstalling windows?

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**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\
**Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beta-directdraw-expired-pl-ease-update/83098/2 "2001-09-22T01:57:40Z")

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What version of DirectX was running on the computer when the errors occured and what version did you subsequently install?

It sounds like your friend installed an illegal 8.1 beta at some point. Uninstall 8.1 using DirectX buster, restart, use Windows Update to obtain the latest version, 8.0a. That has worked for most people. Otherwise visit [http://www.deja.com](http://www.deja.com) . There are lots of threads on this subject.