I installed a game requiring Directx 6.0 and recommending 7.0a. Every time I try to load it to play I get an error stating "ddraw init failed" I am running Windows 2000 with NT tech. on a Pentium 2 processor. When I try installing 6.0 or 7.0a, I get a message stating those service packs are incompatible with the OS I'm running. How can I get this game to play?

What service pack are you running on your 2k machine, as it may just be a simple case of fully updating it to SP4.
Check with Windows Update and download everything.

Right now I have Directx 9.0 SP1 on system, so shouldn't the game play since I have a newer Directx version than is required and recommended? Would the retail version of one of the Directx files cause it to not work properly, because I went to "dxdiag" and looked at the Directx files and file "mc42.dll" is BETA Retail where everything else says FINAL Retail?

Have you made sure that your machine is running ALL of the latest patches and service packs?

First - do what Ben suggested.

Secondly - where did you get this version of DirectX from? Was it an official Microsoft site? I don't think "9.0 SP1" is the latest version. Try getting the latest one from here and try installing that.

HI,
Is your Display Adapter updated? I have Nvidia Display Adapter. Go to the website of your Adapter, check to see if your current Display Adapter supports the version of DirectX you are using. Different versions do require different support from the Adapter; or at least Nvidia does. Certain versions will not work with DirectX 7.0, etc. or version 9.

I have a Cirrus Logic 5446 Compatible Graphics Adapter and DirectX 9.0B, supposed to be the 9.0c download dated dec 2005.

Sorry to say but your graphics adapter isn't compatible with Dx9.
You'd do best in uninstalling it and reinstalling either Dx7 or 8 as they'll work better with the available hardware.

DirectX 6.1 and 7.0A came with the game, and they are incompatile with Windows 2000 Professional. Will I have to downgrade to Windows 98 Second Edition and where can I find that OS cheap?