[K-61]

Well, the experiment to get the game to start with a widescreen GUI is a failure. I did just as you suggested, starting the game with a career name via Commander run as admin. I keep getting the same error message which immediately springs up without a game loading screen:

The program can't start because d3dx9_42.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.

I have tried to find this file anywhere on my system but with no luck. I wonder what this file does? I assume it is Direct 3D9 related and may originally have been installed by the game DVD, but where it is now, who knows?

My next guess is to find a copy of this file somewhere and then manually copy into the game, but I will not attempt to do so before further consultation here. I am simply saying that is a gut reaction, not that I will actually do it unless advised to do so by someone more expert than I.

Edit: I am now researching online about how to resolve this missing dll problem and there are numerous suggestions as to how to do so. I am wondering if the copying of the file when I installed the stock game from DVD got corrupted somehow. I am researching at the moment, but I am not going to mess with it until I speak to someone here again.

Through all of this, guys, I am very appreciative of all your help. Years ago I used to be a bit of a SH3 guru and helped others with their game, and even made mod discs and mailed them or other large files to people without high speed internet. I am feeling very appreciative now that I am on the receiving end of the help.