DirectX, as I understand it, doesn't always update properly – it says that everything is installed and ready, but that's not actually the case. I can't tell you how to uninstall DirectX, but you can search the forums. Try reinstalling your video card driver, and it's best if you have several different ones. Next, is your sound installed correctly? Check if there are any unidentified devices – I've encountered a problem where the sound doesn't work properly (AC97) without the motherboard drivers, and Heroes won't run. In general, the ideal solution is to install XP alongside your current OS and not worry about it. If you need help, contact me on ICQ: 375572427.