Arma never starts trough steam, the .exe gives d3dx11_42.dll error
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Description

Hello guys,

(skip the next part if you want to go straight to the problemsolving)

I've got a little situation here, as you all know Arma 3 will go into beta on the 25th of June. So I want to buy it before that happens but I can't get it to run on my system in the first place. (I'm using a friend's steam account to test it.)

So here's the deal:
I'm running windows 7 x64, fully updated. I got comodo firewall, spybot, avast free and advanced systemcare for maintenance. I've tried disabling all those programs, no difference.

Whenever I start Arma 3 trough steam, it asks if I want to launch in windowed or fullscreen mode, no matter which I choose the window just disappears.

I've tried -nosplash -nobenchmark etcetera, didn't help.

I've tried reinstalling the game, i've tried compatibility mode, i've tried installing directx from the Arma 3 folder, i've tried removing the dll that causes the problem and reinstalling directx, making sure it got replaced, didn't help.

The error message:
C:\Windows\system32\d3dx11_42.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support.

Also I should add, this ALWAYS happens.

I'm no noobie but I can't figure this out on my own. I want to buy arma 3 before it becomes more expensive but I want to be able to run it, understandable I guess ;)

Any help would be appreciated!!! {F19966}

Details

Legacy ID: 3131811584
Severity: None
Resolution: Open
Reproducibility: Always
Category: Error Message

Steps To Reproduce

Start the .exe from the arma 3 directory to produce the error message, launch from steam to get no error at all, nothing.

Additional Information

DXdiag attached.

Event Timeline

Bohemia added a project: Arma 3.May 7 2016, 2:39 PM

sarahnvanweeren edited Steps To Reproduce. (Show Details)Jun 18 2013, 3:22 PM

sarahnvanweeren edited Additional Information. (Show Details)

sarahnvanweeren set Category to Error Message.

sarahnvanweeren set Reproducibility to Always.

sarahnvanweeren set Severity to None.

sarahnvanweeren set Resolution to Open.

sarahnvanweeren set Legacy ID to 3131811584.May 7 2016, 2:39 PM

Bohemia added a subscriber: sarahnvanweeren.Jun 18 2013, 3:22 PM

Can you try please clean install of latest graphic and DirectX drivers? Usage of drivers cleaner before installing new drivers will make sure you have no corrupted drivers left on computer.

Sadly a clean driver install yielded zero results. :( Thanks for the suggestion though! :)

Any other suggestions, 25th of june is closing in on us :C

It looks, that is not only Arma issue.

https://www.google.cz/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&ie=UTF-8#sclient=psy-ab&q=d3dx11_42.dll+error&oq=d3dx11_42.dll+error&gs_l=hp.12..0i30j0i8i30.393650.399033.0.401535.7.7.0.0.0.0.866.1433.3j3j6-1.7.0...0.0.0..1c.1.17.psy-ab.bA-FhWnTJhQ&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48293060,d.Yms&fp=52b48198bd2ccf0&ion=1&biw=1680&bih=965

Did you try another DX11 game?

Yeah, I can run Battlefield 3, Metro: Last Light etcetera. I have a 9800gtx+, which is a DX10.1 card. It's quite capable of running DX11 (with limited functionality but that should be no problem)

Deadline is tonight, somebody, please help me fix this!!!!!!!

Ok, so it seems somehow (even though I have full administrator access, i've forcefully claimed all the system folders and i am no noobie) Windows won't allow files to be copied to Syswow64. I run 64 bit 7 and if I rename the d3dx11.42.dll to d3dx11.42-original.dll and run the DX installer it fails at the end. Normally it just succeeds but it won't help.

Also, I can't copy the version from the system32 directory over to there.

I am full administrator of my OS, I disabled all forms of User Account Control etcetera.

I am out of ideas!!!

FIXED IT!

1.I renamed the d3dx11_42.dll from SysWow64 directory to "d3dx11_42-original.dll",

2.then copied the d3dx11_42.dll from the System32 directory to the SysWow64 directory WITH TOTAL COMMANDER. (TOtal Commander is a windows explorer shell aternative, i could only get it done with that, windows just won't do it on it's own)

(Important!) Then ran the direct-x setup from the arma 3 folder in steamapps.

I've tried a hundred different approaches but this was the ONLY fix.

Please consider making this a sticky, it's a >>PROBLEM WITH WINDOWS 7<< that causes the Syswow64 folder to not accept copying/moving. This could help a lot of people!!!!!!!!!