How to Download and Install DirectX 5.0

• Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article provides detailed instructions about how to install the most recent version of DirectX.

DirectX is an extension of the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system designed to provide Windows-based games and multimedia-rich programs with high-performance, real-time access to available hardware on current computer systems. This results in faster and better performing Windows-based games and multimedia-rich programs.

DirectX 5.0 works best with updated audio and display drivers that include hardware acceleration features. DirectX 5.0 includes updated drivers for the most popular sound and video adapters. For many older sound and video adapters, these are the most recent drivers available. If you are using recently manufactured sound and video adapters, you can contact your hardware manufacturer to inquire about obtaining more recent DirectX-compatible drivers for your sound and video adapters.

MORE INFORMATION

To download and install the most recent version of DirectX, follow these steps:

1. Start your Web browser, and connect to the following Microsoft Web site:

         http://www.microsoft.com/directx
   

2. Scroll down the page until you see the DirectX 5.0 For End Users section. Click the Download Your Copy link in this section.

3. Click the appropriate link for your language version of Windows 95, and then click the link to download the file.

4. Click Save this Program To Disk, and then click OK. We recommend this option because the DirectX installation file remains available on your hard drive in case you need to reinstall DirectX at a later time.

   Note the name of the file, so that you can find it on your hard drive when the download is complete.

5. Save the file to your favorite download folder. If you are not sure where to save it, we suggest "C:\". For example, if you download the English language version of DirectX, type "C:\dx5eng.exe" (including the quotation marks) in the File Name box, and then click Save.

6. When the download is complete, click OK, and then quit your Web browser.

7. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.

8. In the named box, type the name of the DirectX installation file.

9. In the Look In box, click the drive onto which you downloaded the DirectX installation file, and then click Find Now.

10. In the list of found files, double-click the DirectX installation file, and then follow the instructions on the screen to install the most recent version of DirectX on your computer.