DxDiag

DirectX Diagnostics A component of Microsoft Windows
The first version of DxDiag from DirectX 6.0 (4.06.00.0318)
Details
Included with	Windows 98 Second Edition, all other Windows versions with DirectX 6.0 or later
Replaces	DXInfo
Related components
DirectX

DxDiag ("DirectX Diagnostics") is a diagnostics tool used to test DirectX functionality and troubleshoot video- or sound-related hardware problems. DirectX Diagnostic can save text files with the scan results. These files are often posted in tech forums or attached to support emails in order to give support personnel a better idea of the PC the requester is using in case the error is due to a hardware failure or incompatibility.

DxDiag is by default located in %SystemRoot%\System32.^[1] In Windows Vista and Windows 7, DxDiag only shows information; it is no longer possible to test the hardware and the various DirectX components. ^[2]

Functions

The System tab displays the current DirectX version, the computer's hostname, the operating system's version, information on the system BIOS, and other data. The DirectX Files tab displays information about the versions of specific DirectX system files, which are portable executables or dynamic-link libraries (DLLs).

DxDiag displays information about the current display settings and the video hardware on the Display tab. If the computer has more than one monitor, then DxDiag will display a separate tab for each monitor. This tab can disable DirectDraw, Direct3D, and/or AGP Texture Acceleration for troubleshooting purposes. If the installed display driver has passed Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing, DxDiag will display this result on the right side of the window.

The Music tab displays information about the computer's MIDI settings, and lists different music-related software and hardware on your computer. The Input tab, displays information about input devices installed in the computer such as keyboards and mice. It will also attempt to detect problems with these devices. DxDiag also displays information about the installed DirectPlay Service Provider.

It is possible to create chat rooms with DxDiag that can be accessed by other computers, as long as anyone attempting to join knows the IP address of the host computer.

In Windows XP Professional x64 edition, Windows Vista x64 edition, and Windows 7 x64 edition, two versions of DxDiag are included, a native 64-bit version and a 32-bit version. System Info

An operating system (OS) is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system. Without an operating system, a user cannot run an application program on their computer, unless the application program is self booting. Language – Displays the language used by the system. System manufacture – Displays the manufacturer of the OS System model – Displays the installed model of the system.

Bios - Acronym for Basic Input/Output System, which is a software program built into a computer and is the first program to run when the computer is started. The messages that appear on the screen when the computer starts are, in fact, from this software program. On personal computers (PCs), the BIOS contains all the code (on a ROM or a flash memory chip) required to control the keyboard, the disk drives, the display screen, a number of functions, and serial communications. After BIOS finishes testing the memory and configuring the system, it “boots” the operating system installed on the hard drive by loading an executable loading program from the boot block of the hard drive, CD-ROM, or, in some instances, the network. Processor – Logical circuity that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer.

Memory - A device that stores computer data or programs for subsequent retrieval. In the general sense, the term refers to all forms of on-line storage, including hard disk drives and tape drives. In practice, the term generally refers to a computer's fast semiconductor-based main memory, or random access memory (RAM), as distinguished from its secondary storage, such as hard drives.Virtual memory is disk space pretending to be RAM. See also flash memory, RAM, and ROM.

Page File – The page file is one of those pieces of the operating system that administrators know that they need to have - but they can't always explain why they need it, or how to accurately size it. Since Windows 95, Windows-based operating systems have used a special file that acts as a sort of "scratch pad" to store modified pages that are still in use by some process. Page file space is reserved when the pages are initially committed, however the page file locations are not chosen until the page is written to disk. So, in simplistic terms, the page file is used by Windows to hold temporary data which is swapped in and out of physical memory in order to provide a larger virtual memory set.

Directx version – The Version of the Installed DirectX.

Dac type - In electronics, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC or D-to-A) is a device for converting a digital (usually binary) code to an analog signal (current, voltage or electric charge). An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) performs the reverse operation. CD's store bits - that is 1's and 0's. Your CD player will read the CD and then convert the digital information to analog information that you will then feed to an amplifier or pre-amplifier. This is a critical process that needs to be done very well in order for enjoyable, fatigue free sound. Most CD players will only make a half-hearted effort at the Digital-to-Analog conversion process, relying on OEM converter chipset's and less than adequate amplification stages. These will usually share the same power supply as that of the CD mechanism, which itself is very demanding on power because of the constant feedback mechanisms involved in the read-back process. Many audiophiles will go for a two-box alternative. The first box being a CD transport (or CD player being used as a transport) which, in turn, feeds into a DAC. The DAC then converts the digital signal into an analog one; producing the line-level output that can be fed into a pre-amplifier or integrated amplifier. Most dedicated CD players will have a digital output on them as well as the analog output. If you connect the digital output of your CD player to a DAC then you will bypass the CD player's "internal DAC" (digital-to-analog portion of your CD player) and the external DAC will then be responsible for the conversion process. This is an extremely effective way of upgrading a CD-based hi-fi system and can make an extreme impact on the quality of playback. Later, you can then consider whether or not to upgrade your CD player to a dedicated CD transport. It is even possible to use a computer as a transport by use of a USB interface between the computer and DAC (such an option exists for our DAC Kit 2.1 in the form of an internal add-on board) and appropriate software. Our DAC kits are based on the experience gained from Audio Note's many years of producing DAC's. They produce some of the most highly rated of all DAC's on the market today and have some unique and novel methods of handling the many aspects of the digital-to-analog process - many of which we can pass on to you through our DAC kits. Instead of blindly accepting all of the then-current theory and dictate from the early pioneers of the technology as most manufacturers did (and still do) one company, Audio Note ( This is a great DIY site for audiophile components), decided to do their own research into how the DAC process should be achieved (they were already experts in handling the eventual Analog portion). They found that simplicity and careful design at each stage of the process was the best way to go. Their resulting approach was, at the time, very controversial and upset many deeply held beliefs in the design world. Today, however, more and more manufacturers are beginning to use some of Audio Note's methods in their own designs and Audio Note are still at the forefront of DAC design. Normally DirectDraw acceleration would always be enabled. If not, perhaps your display driver needs updating.

One other thing to check is to go into Control Panel, Display, and on the Troubleshoot tab, drag the slider bar all the way over to the right where it says 'Full'. When the slider is on the left, DirectDraw acceleration doesn't work. Direct Input Devices Direct input is a data entry form that does not use a keyboard to input data. Today, more data and instructions are entered a CPU of microcomputers directly using direct input devices used to provide a more natural user interface. These entry devices reduce users' typing errors. While direct input is an advanced fourth generation data entry form, voice input (speech input) is the mode of next generation input technology. There are many forms of direct input devices: • Mouse • Touch screen • Light Pen • Graphics Tablet • Scanner • Bar-code readers • Magnetic Entry • Voice-Input Devices dpwsockx.dll (Internet TCP/IP and IPX Connection For DirectPlay) is a component from the software Microsoft� Windows� Operating System version 5.2.0 by Microsoft Corporation. dpwsockx.dll version 5.2.0 has a file size of 54,784 bytes, and is most commonly found under the directory "$NtUninstallKB839643$" with a creation date of March 7, 2005. This is not a known spyware, adware, or trojan component. Microsoft Windows is the most widely used PC operating system.

The dpmodemx.dll module allows a user to set the appropriate configuration for hosting or joining a game. The player needs to identify first under the Communication Mode box which connection to use. If the player selects the modem or serial connection, the dpmodemx.dll application comes into play. When playing as a host, the player selects the Host Mission in the Callsign box. Then, a Mission Password is typed for protected games and given to other invited players. The dpmodemx.dll application, then, allows the host player to configure the modem or serial connection.

For joining a game, the Remote Link Directory appears in order to collect connection information. The information asked is either a phone number or com port setting. For modem connection, the joining player is requested to enter the phone number of the host of the game to dial. In the same way, the serial connection prompts the player to specify the com port settings for joining a game.

The module dpnet.dll has an advanced, complex interface that allows applications to communicate and connect games through a modem link, over the Internet, or via local area network (LAN). This DLL features a set of tools, which allow players to find game sessions and sites to manage the flow of information between the hosts and the players. The transport protocol and the session protocol levels used by the dpnet.dll application can be run on TCP/IP and IPX networks as well as to directly connected modems and serial cables. The application dpnet.dll is media-independent and does not rely on the underlying communication services or protocol. This means that it is allowed to be extended in the future to support new protocols and standards while being widely deployed. Also included with the dpnet.dll module are the DirectPlay Lobby APIs. It allows applications to register themselves with the dpnet.dll program. In this way, other applications will be able to easily launch them and pass them specific network addressing information. The Lobby APIs, without having to write special code for each launcher, lets you create games that can be immediately launched by numerous matchmaking utilities and services. Being one of the components of DirectX which runs in COM, the file dpnet.dll is also accessed through the COM interface. It uses multi-threading techniques wherein a single processor gives the illusion of simultaneity to the user when in fact it is really doing one thing at a time. This technique requires attention to avoid threading issues. DirectX 9, however, improved this issue at the expense of efficiency. Under the hood, the dpnet.dll file is built on the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to allow it speedy communication with other DirectPlay applications. UDP is one of the main protocols of the Internet Protocol suite wherein programs on networked computers can send short messages known as datagrams to another computer. UDP is also called the Universal Datagram Protocol.

References

1. ^ "DirectX: Description of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool". Microsoft. 2007-05-07. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/190900. Retrieved 2008-03-03. 
2. ^ XNA Framework Goals