A lot of computer programs require specific runtimes in order to work properly; in other words some software sometimes requires the presence another software that is especially designed to support its execution. One of the most common and encountered by the majority of users when dealing with multimedia elements is Microsoft's DirectX.

In the absence of the latest version of this component games may not function the right way or at all, while video or audio playback could be also affected. DirectX impacts on 3D animation rendering and full color graphics as well. Bundled with Windows operating system, this runtime needs only to be updated and no other user intervention is required.

Checking the current version installed on your system is an easy task, all you have to do is run the 'DirectX Diagnostic Tool'. The simplest way to bring it up is to type 'dxdiag' in the 'Run' field of the 'Start Menu' and then press 'Enter'. Since DirectX consists of several components, you can view and diagnose them from the above mentioned application.

The technologies included in this package also feature performance and security updates, therefore it's recommended to update it each time a new release is available. Fortunately, DirectX cannot be uninstalled by accident, thus there is virtually no danger of losing it.

Some dedicated software may downgrade or rollback a more recent version of the runtime, but it is not recommended to remove the components as they are key in the functioning of the operating system. Not having DirectX onto your PC means that you are no longer able to play the latest games or use many rich multimedia programs, so it's best to simply leave this Windows component do its job.