### Installing DxWnd

To install DxWnd, just unpack the compressed RAR archive.

DxWnd is portable, meaning that it does not write to the registry and can be placed in any folder you like. Since sometimes DxWnd writes to its folder, use a location that you can write to, like the hard drive or a USB flash drive, rather than a CD.

You can have as many copies of DxWnd as you like, but only one instance of DxWnd can run at a time.

### Using DxWnd

Just double-click on "dxwnd.exe" to run the graphical interface (a tiny, white, empty window), then locate the executable for the program you would like to hook, and drag & drop this file into the DxWnd window. A complex dialog will appear, but in many cases the built-in defaults are sufficient.

Alternatively, you can add a program via the menu by choosing File > Add menu command and filling in the program definition form. The only required parameter is the program path (the "Path:" field).

For every configured program, the DxWnd interface will show a new entry in the list. You can run a configured program by starting it from its normal shortcut or by double-clicking the program entry in the DxWnd interface.

Be sure to read "README.FIRST.txt" for important information about running DxWnd. And check "readme-relnotes.txt" to find out what has changed in the different versions.

Check out the Beginner's Tutorial

It may be necessary to run DxWnd with administrator privileges in some cases when the target program needs it.

DxWnd saves all its data in a configuration file named "dxwnd.ini". It may happen that you accidentally chose to install DxWnd in a folder where the program doesn't have write capabilities, and this would prevent it from saving the configuration. To avoid this risk, DxWnd performs an initial check about the save operation and, in case of any error and before it's too late, it warns you with the following message. If you see the message, you will either have to make sure that DxWnd has sufficient capabilities to write in the current folder or you will have to install the program in another folder until the message is no longer visible. For instance, it may happen that DxWnd folder can't be appended below the desktop but should be moved to the "Programs" or "Documents" folder.

DxWnd currently does not handle the long path format of Windows 10 or Windows 11, so any file that should be handled by this program must have a full pathname shorter than the MAX_PATH macro value that corresponds to 240 characters. Since this holds not only for the target program but also for files that could be located in the program subfolders (like CD-DA tracks, virtual CD or HD file systems and so forth), it is suggested to install the programs in folders whose pathname is not too long.

### Troubleshooting

Many games require additional configuration before they run correctly. For this reason, the program comes with an "export" folder that contains predefined, tested configurations for all the tested games. If you're having trouble running a game, check this set of files to see if you can import a built-in configuration file (with File > Import). Remember to update the "Path:" field to match the hooked program's location on your computer.

If you still can't get it to work, there are a few more options to try:

- Run the game with the "Show hints" flag. DxWnd will try to analyze the program at runtime and provide some hints about possible configuration improvements by showing messages in dialog boxes. Remember to turn this flag off once everything is working, or you will continue to receive these messages.

- Check the common problems list (coming soon) for solutions to known issues.

- Collect some logs by setting the log flags (see Logs) and sending the logs to the developer via a thread on the SourceForge discussion board. Remember to specify your platform and the version of the game, and include a description of the problem.