Links 2003 will not run

[jahmanson]

Thanks for that info

Does anyone know which version of DirectX Links 2003 uses and, are there older versions of ReShade downloadable which supports that ?

Thanks again

[pmgolf]

DxDiag shows mine as DirectX 12.

Pete

[Titus]

Links2K3 is a DirectX 9 game.

my ReShade 5.9.x with Windows 10

[dwg]

I do not see how Links could be DirectX 9

I believe Links was released before DirectX 9 was, additionally it runs with the DirectX wrapper back to version 2.55 which I do not think has DirectX 9 support.

[Titus]

DirectX 7.0 4.07.00.0700 (RC1) September 22, 1999
DirectX 8.0 4.08.00.0400 (RC10) November 12, 2000
DirectX 9.0 4.09.00.0900 (RC4) December 19, 2002

Links 2003 First Release: September 16, 2002

Okay, Links also ran with DirectX 7.0 back then - I played Links2K3 in 2004 with DirectX 9.0

[dwg]

I think there are two different sides here, what version calls Links is using and what version is supported by the system and drivers. DirectX is generally backward compatible but some vendors appear to be more compatible than others.

[Mailman]

I think there are two different sides here, what version calls Links is using and what version is supported by the system and drivers. DirectX is generally backward compatible but some vendors appear to be more compatible than others.

Links2003 on my Windows 11 system reports the system info as (DirectX 9.0) 4.09.00.0904 (which is actually DirectX 9.0c) although it still takes from 0 to 15 restarts or so to get it going. Similar situation with starting Links via Gameranger re the multiple re-starts.

[dwg]

DirectX 9 is still supported on Windows today, so the System Info showing that is not a surprise.

I am at a loss to know what it is on your system that is causing the issue. However I have only used Links with Intel processors, also I have not used an AMD/ATI GPU for quite some years, in recent times it has been Intel or Nvidia GPUs.

[Mailman]

DirectX 9 is still supported on Windows today, so the System Info showing that is not a surprise.

I am at a loss to know what it is on your system that is causing the issue. However I have only used Links with Intel processors, also I have not used an AMD/ATI GPU for quite some years, in recent times it has been Intel or Nvidia GPUs.

You and me both Believe me I have tried and keep on trying to find that particular combination that loads Links first time every time. Not found it yet.

At least I can brute force Links to load up (and run) without too much time being wasted these days. I do get the odd time where it starts up 1st time before it reverts back to its usual behaviour. More recent things I have tried have been:

• Resetted Windows entirely

• Motherboard drivers and BIOS updated to most recent

• Reinstalled Links after removing all trace any links2k3 files in the user/application/program data sections etc

• Performed scaling on the display (rather than the GPU)

• Cleared the Prefetch file

• Cleared temp files

• Installed complete Nvidia package (inc Geforce experience)

• Uninstalled Nvidia drivers completely using DDU

• Installed only graphics drivers

• Recreated Links profile within Nvidia settings

• Performed scaling on the GPU (rather than Display)

[dwg]

I would be inclined to try 1920 x 1080 upscaled as that is the same aspect ratio as your monitor.

The Ryzen is unknown to me, so something about it or its configuration etc could be a factor.

On my own Windows notebook I am suspect about the Intel GPU drivers could be causing me problems.

Des