To work properly, DirectX requires that you have the proper drivers for your particular hardware devices. If you do not have compatible drivers, you may experience random crashes, bizarre video phenomena, sound issues, or the game may not launch at all.

The first thing that you need to do if you experience trouble running UO, whether it be a crash, lockup, video, or sound problem, is to check:

1. That you are using the latest possible version of DirectX.
2. That both your sound and video cards are DirectX supported and have compatible drivers

Ultima Online contains DirectX, you can install it by running Dxsetup.exe, located in the DirectX folder on the CD. The latest version can always be found at: www.microsoft.com/directx/download.asp.

Once you have installed DX 6, you can use the following steps to determine if you have compatible drivers:

1. Left-click on the Windows 'Start' button, select 'Find', and then 'Files or Folders'.
2. In the 'Named' box, type 'dxdiag'.
3. Verify that the 'Look in' option is targeting your hard drive.
4. Click on 'Find Now'.
5. When the file is found, it will appear in the lower window, double-click on the small icon beside 'Dxdiag.exe'.

Once the DirectX Diagnostic Tool has loaded, check the sound and display tabs. Look at the main driver version number. If you see a blank line or a number that is below 4.05.00.0000, you will need to check the hardware manufacturer's website for a certified DirectX driver. If there is no certified driver available for download, you will need to contact the company, either by phone or e-mail. If your drivers are certified but you are not sure of the performance of them, please use the "test" buttons in the DirectX Diagnostic tool to verify that they are operating correctly.

Certified:
The driver has been tested and approved by Microsoft and should work with all DirectX applications. If the driver is certified, the problem may not linked to that piece of hardware. Still, it is always a good idea to have the most current drivers available for your hardware to ensure future compatibility with all applications.

Uncertified:
This means Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs have not tested the driver. These drivers may function properly, if the version is 4.05.00.0000 or higher, however, there could be some difficulties. It is recommended to check with your hardware manufacturer for any updated drivers that may be available.

If you have never updated your drivers before, you may want to consult your system vendor and get their recommendation. If you choose to upgrade the drivers yourself, follow the installation instructions provided with the driver very carefully.

To ensure optimal game performance, we recommend shutting down all non-critical background applications in Windows before starting the game (this includes ICQ). To do this, hold the CTRL and ALT keys down at the same time, then hit the DELETE key once. This will bring up a window called "Close Programs". The only applications that you want listed here when running the game are "Explorer" and "Systray". Close all other programs by double clicking on them. You will need to repeat this process after closing each application. Note: you may have to do this a couple of times before some applications will close. Doing this will ensure that other programs aren't using up precious system resources.