Windows Insider builds are often a mixed bag, showcasing new features while also presenting users with various bugs. Recently, build 27808, released on March 7, has drawn attention for a particularly troublesome issue: crashes in applications utilizing DirectX 9. This has led to widespread reports from users, prompting Microsoft to acknowledge the problem.
DirectX 9 games are crashing on the latest Windows Insider build
The crux of the matter lies in the d3d9.dll crash affecting multiple applications. As highlighted in an update on the Windows Blog, Microsoft is actively investigating this issue, which has been reported to impact not just older games but any application relying on the DirectX 9 graphics API. Fortunately, this glitch appears to be limited to users in the Canary channel, known for receiving the most cutting-edge, albeit unstable, builds of Windows 11.
And users suggest it could be related to Nvidia GPUs
While Microsoft has yet to confirm a direct link between the crashes and Nvidia GPUs, user reports indicate a potential correlation. Some individuals have found a workaround by replacing the problematic d3d9.dll file with one from a previous build, although this requires disabling the Nvidia GPU in Device Manager first. The speculation surrounding Nvidia is not unfounded; recent RTX 50-series graphics cards have been associated with a series of issues, including hardware malfunctions and software bugs that can lead to game crashes and unresponsive screens.
As Microsoft continues to work on a resolution, users in the Canary channel may consider reverting to a previous build or switching to a more stable channel to avoid these disruptions. For those willing to experiment, the DLL swap might provide a temporary fix, but caution is advised. The broader user base, particularly those in the general release channel or more stable Insider channels, should remain unaffected by these issues.
