Buzz
With the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, we can easily identify the causes of hardware issues used by multimedia applications, such as video players or music players.
Continue reading this Mytour article to explore how to use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to troubleshoot issues on Windows computers.
What is DirectX?
According to Wikipedia, 'Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) designed to handle tasks related to multimedia, particularly game programming and video on Microsoft platforms.'.
DirectX is commonly used for developing Windows and Xbox games. Therefore, if video games are experiencing stability and performance issues, the DirectX Diagnostic Tool can help diagnose the root cause. Developers and game companies often recommend players use DirectX Diagnostic Tool for assistance when encountering issues during gameplay. Download DirectX.
How to Use DirectX Diagnostic Tool to Fix Issues
Launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
To launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, use the executable file found in the path C:\Windows\System32\dxdiag.exe.
On Windows 7, type dxdiag in the Search box on the Start Menu, then from the search results list, click dxdiag.exe.
On Windows 10, type dxdiag in the Search box on the Start menu or Cortana, then from the search results list, click dxdiag.
If you're using Windows 8.1, the steps might vary slightly. First, navigate to the Start Screen, then type dxdiag into the Search box and select dxdiag from the search results.
Moreover, all Windows operating systems allow users to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool through the Run command by entering the command dxdiag and pressing Enter or clicking OK.
Check if the driver is signed or not
The first time you open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, a small pop-up window will appear, asking you to check if the driver is signed with Microsoft's digital signature and approved by Windows Hardware Quality Labs. All you need to do is click Yes.
The DirectX Diagnostic Tool window will present at least 4 tabs, including System, Display, Sound, and Input tabs.
Some tabs may appear multiple times, accompanied by numerical sequences. This indicates that the DirectX Diagnostic Tool has detected multiple drivers for devices with similar functionalities.
For example, if a computer is equipped with 2 monitors, you will see 2 tabs named Display 1 and Display 2. Additionally, various audio devices like the Creative Sound Blaster sound card, Acer monitor with integrated speakers, onboard motherboard audio chip, and AMD graphics card can each have a dedicated tab. So, you may have 4 tabs related to sound, each for a specific device.
In the System tab, check the box for Check for WHQL digital signatures at the bottom of the window if not already selected. Click Yes when prompted to grant permission for evaluating whether all drivers are signed. You can uncheck this option anytime if needed.
In older Windows versions like Windows 7, for instance, if you're using the 64-bit version, the first time you run the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, it will examine the 32-bit drivers installed on your computer.
Therefore, the tool won't display sufficient information if your system has 64-bit drivers installed. Click the Run 64-bit DxDiag button if it appears. The 64-bit tool version will execute to reassess your drivers and hardware configuration.
On Windows 10, you won't see this button because the DirectX Diagnostic Tool automatically checks for installed 64-bit drivers on the device every time users launch the tool.
Retrieve system information from DxDiag
System Tab will display basic information about your computer or device, including the computer name, the operating system version in use, motherboard details (found under System Manufacturer and System Model), BIOS type and version, RAM capacity, and details related to page file and installed DirectX version.
Retrieve System Monitor Information
Details related to the video card and monitor are shown in the Display tab. Here, you can find the name of the video card in use, the manufacturer, chip type, total memory capacity, current resolution, connected display, screen resolution in use, and detailed information about driver settings (such as version, date, ...).
In the DirectX Features section, a list of the most crucial DirectX features that are activated will be displayed.
The Notes section displays the latest identified issues. This information can be utilized to troubleshoot problems on your Windows system.
Retrieve System Sound Information
Details about available sound output options on your Windows computer or other devices are found in the Sound tab. This includes information such as the name and manufacturer of each device, details related to drivers, like date and version. The latest device issues are listed in the Notes section.
Retrieve System Input Information
The Input tab displays information related to connected input devices, such as keyboards, mice, gaming keyboards, or microphones.
You can view detailed information for each device (such as the currently used driver file, version, ...) by expanding each type of input device in the Input Related Devices section.
This Mytour article has just guided you on using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to troubleshoot issues on your Windows computer. Additionally, you can easily check your computer configuration using the dxdiag command here. If you have any concerns or questions that need clarification, readers can leave their comments below the article.
