If you don't like messing with the registry, click on start - run type dxdiag and press return and you will see everything you ever wanted to know about Direct X. Have fun.
Also go to
http://search.miocrosoft.com and put in the details and it may come up with a solution for the error message you get.
[This message has been edited by spannersatcx (edited 24 January 2000).]