It's no fun when game manufacturers ship uncertified DirectX drivers. They can cause system crashes, hangs and other mystical events. Before installing any DirectX-based games, go to http://www.microsoft.com/DirectX/default.asp, pick up the latest Microsoft drivers and install them. If a game steps on these-or if you've already been struck-use Safe mode and go to Control Panel, select Add/Remove Programs and remove the bad drivers. Then reinstall the ones from the Microsoft site.

Windows Magazine, May 1997, page 94.