Error message when you set the screen saver to a 3D screen saver in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2: "The screen saver can't run because it requires a newer video card or one that's compatible with Direct3D"

Applies To
Windows 7 Windows Server 2008 R2

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:

  • You have a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

  • You set the screen saver to a 3D screen saver such as 3D Text, Bubbles, Mystify, or Ribbons.

  • You have a display that has a native panel resolution of less than 640 pixels wide or 400 pixels high.

    Note Depending on the native panel resolution, you may only encounter the problem when the screen orientation is in Portrait mode.

In this scenario, you receive the following error message when the screen saver is expected to start:

Note

The screen saver can't run because it requires a newer video card or one that's compatible with Direct3D.

This issue occurs even though the video card is capable of running the screen saver and is compatible with Direct3D.

Cause

This issue occurs because of an issue in the 3D screen savers.

Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http:⁠//support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

Registry information

To use the hotfix in this package, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You may have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 file information notes

Important Windows 7 hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 R2 and for Windows 7" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Bubbles.scr 6.1.7600.20732 878,592 12-Jun-2010 05:24 Not Applicable
Bubbles.scr 6.1.7600.20732 878,592 12-Jun-2010 05:24 Not Applicable
Mystify.scr 6.1.7600.20732 221,184 12-Jun-2010 05:24 Not Applicable
Mystify.scr 6.1.7600.20732 221,184 12-Jun-2010 05:24 Not Applicable
Ribbons.scr 6.1.7600.20732 220,672 12-Jun-2010 05:24 Not Applicable
Ribbons.scr 6.1.7600.20732 220,672 12-Jun-2010 05:24 Not Applicable
Sstext3d.scr 6.1.7600.20732 293,888 12-Jun-2010 05:24 Not Applicable
Sstext3d.scr 6.1.7600.20732 293,888 12-Jun-2010 05:24 Not Applicable

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Bubbles.scr 6.1.7600.20732 899,584 12-Jun-2010 06:04 Not Applicable
Bubbles.scr 6.1.7600.20732 899,584 12-Jun-2010 06:04 Not Applicable
Mystify.scr 6.1.7600.20732 242,688 12-Jun-2010 06:04 Not Applicable
Mystify.scr 6.1.7600.20732 242,688 12-Jun-2010 06:04 Not Applicable
Ribbons.scr 6.1.7600.20732 241,664 12-Jun-2010 06:04 Not Applicable
Ribbons.scr 6.1.7600.20732 241,664 12-Jun-2010 06:04 Not Applicable
Sstext3d.scr 6.1.7600.20732 333,824 12-Jun-2010 06:04 Not Applicable
Sstext3d.scr 6.1.7600.20732 333,824 12-Jun-2010 06:04 Not Applicable

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

More Information

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
 

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
 

Additional file information

Additional file information for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

File name X86_6345536f21647b4110a82f939fadc9a4_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_14134dc8eb3d44d5.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 695
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_80e9704217cb4246ab2a5e4def50f0b2_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_ee550b013c0f2c05.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 695
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_a11ec4ed504f9a84cc48bf2b29537795_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_380107e9966c3ffa.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 696
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_c50622a90393738b59fc0dcdef958bae_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_1997185da021e777.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 695
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_f2b435775a134a9330834d4bcd11dc28_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_7d912df4321a8da7.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 695
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_f73bc9584e61bc18fba0a745225bd3e4_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_64a39300f07a3892.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 695
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_f9016414e60fa8e3544eef16889b4a27_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_eb91c7bc338d7b4a.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 695
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_f98afaabd2f7bb1bc502b02875644a9c_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_7afa3900347a11f6.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 696
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-bubbles_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_6f114d9a443cf673.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,791
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:11
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-bubbles_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_6081c9dfcf239f42.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,358
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:10
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-mystify_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_f0a4a270d9a899f3.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,791
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:10
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-mystify_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_e2151eb6648f42c2.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,358
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:11
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-ribbons_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_8947eb60a247403d.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,791
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:18
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-ribbons_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_7ab867a62d2de90c.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,100
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:09
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-sstext3d_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_04cbbfdcd9e788d8.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,800
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:10
Platform Not Applicable
File name X86_microsoft-windows-sstext3d_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_f63c3c2264ce31a7.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,364
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:11
Platform Not Applicable

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2

File name Amd64_0c5a3ec5ed04f28611004861b3fe71c9_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_16a2f19c6c20c25a.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,038
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_22decb3cfb8acd49eb5dd2370dff7473_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_bca459261b527660.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,040
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_930c7b89b2c8f7755bd586f1b897e268_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_c03aadd945adabbe.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,040
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_9dfa1ab1949cc4e0890fcf39043203aa_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_ad0d3508640a7068.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,038
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_a99bbef603dcf0732f88bca7d71d80ae_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_92e235336cd978a5.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,038
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_abed1646f756249e971bff3d3d7b78e6_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_d6a8f7b227730f12.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,038
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_f511014324a3a13e14e77e0215a905f4_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_157b929a51f7942f.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,038
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_f7652203db99cb510209732464d40da3_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_7532e8455315725a.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 1,038
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 10:54
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-bubbles_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_cb2fe91dfc9a67a9.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,795
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:56
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-bubbles_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_bca0656387811078.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,362
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:53
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-mystify_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_4cc33df492060b29.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,795
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:55
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-mystify_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_3e33ba3a1cecb3f8.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,362
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:57
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-ribbons_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_e56686e45aa4b173.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,795
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 07:09
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-ribbons_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_d6d70329e58b5a42.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,104
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:52
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-sstext3d_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20732_none_60ea5b609244fa0e.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,804
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:55
Platform Not Applicable
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-sstext3d_31bf3856ad364e35_7.1.7600.20732_none_525ad7a61d2ba2dd.manifest
File version Not Applicable
File size 2,368
Date (UTC) 12-Jun-2010
Time (UTC) 06:55
Platform Not Applicable