>> I downloaded Gothic 3 through the GOG.com downloader and the game installed just fine, however when I go to launch the game it gave me the error "Application failed to start because d3dx9_29.dll was not found. Try re-installing the application" about a missing file. My system is well beyond capable of running this game on XP SP2. I redownloaded and installed it twice and it keeps giving me the same error. I tried installing the 1.74 community patch and it still didn't work. Any ideas? Direct 9.0c is installed also it should work I have run this game before. Any ideas?.

Try installing the latest DirectX updates.

I would also suggest temporarily disabling your firewall then try to run the game. If it runs you might need to make the Gothic3.exe a trusted file in your firewall settings. I run the Comodo firewall that seems to block disk access for some games while not even noticing others. Making the game exe a trusted file usually fixes that particular problem.

A long shot might be if you installed at a different location on your previous install and failed to get a complete uninstall or possibly some left over registry entries that point to the old install location. If Arkose's suggestion and the firewall fix fail you might try cleaning your registry with CCleaner. Here is a link to the CCleaner build page, I recommend the "Slim" build at the bottom of the page. I use it regularly on my XP Pro box with no issues. The program allows you to backup the registry deletions prior to removal. A double click of the backup .reg file will replace the deleted settings.

I am running Gothic 3 on my XP box with the only difference being I have SP 3 installed but . . . I don't think G3 actually needs that particular SP. . . =)

im running vista serv peck 2 and im gitting the same thing i tried every thing any ideas

You could try installing the game in literally any folder besides the program folder. That tends to fix lots of issues on Vista.

But yeah, sounds like both of you should just reinstall Direct X.

ya ty thats what i got going now i hope it works

it goes to launch now but it comes up with exception _acces_violation in module engine.dll

As stated in the system requirements for the game '3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 9.0c...'

DirectX 11 is *not* backwards compatible. DirectX 9 installs and runs alongside DX 11.

It's up to you whether you install DX9 or not but most older games won't work without it.

Thanks, I did just that and it runs now.