“Error: A redistributable package (DirectX) was not installed successfully. Setup cannot continue. (4294967287)”
So this is going to be my first non-enterprise IT related post. One of my friends called me to help their son install a new PC game that just came out called APEX Legends. He was receiving the following error messages, which I realized was a bigger issue across the internet.
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The Error Messages:
The error message that he was getting was “Error: A redistributable package (DirectX) was not installed successfully. Setup cannot continue. (4294967287)” and after clicking okay, Origin threw the following error: Error 327684:1 (stuck at 38% download)
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The Attempted Fixes:
I’m documenting these fixes because I’m not sure if it was a combination that actually resolved the issue. I found varying information across my google searches. Here they are:
- Delete all *.cab files under C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex\__Installer\directx\redist\
This was the most popular fix, but many people, like my friend’s son reported that this doesn’t work. - Uninstall all versions of Microsoft Visual C++, Reboot, and re-install the following versions here:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex\__Installer\vc\vc2010sp1\redist\vcredist_x64.exe
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex\__Installer\vc\vc2012Update4\redist\vcredist_x64.exe
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex\__Installer\vc\vc2015\redist\vc_redist.x64.exe
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex\__Installer\vc\vc2015\redist\vc_redist.x86.exe
I’ve also confirmed that this by itself does not work.
- Re-install NVIDIA drivers to the latest version. And once again I’ve confirmed that this by itself does not work.
- I also did some major registry deep-diving and Windows Event viewer troubleshooting that led me no where.
IF none of these worked for you keep reading…
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Finally the Actual Fix:
After many rounds of trying different things (several hours), I’ve finally came across one thing that was a surefire fix.
- Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex\__Installer\directx\redist
- Sort the folder by name
- VERY IMPORTANT!:
Delete all files EXCEPT, DSETUP.dll, dsetup32.dll, DXSETUP.EXE and any .cab file with a 2010 in the name. The folder should look like this:
- After you have your files looking like this, right-click on DXSETUP.exe and choose run as administrator.
- You should get a successful installation error message.
- Launch the game again and it should work without error.
Feel free to post here if after executing these steps, the issue still happens. On the contrary please let me know if the issue is fixed!
I want to give a big shout out to EA for horrible support, horrible release and just being a horrible company overall. Keep up the great work!
EDIT: A couple people have already offered to buy a cup of coffee for saving them from several days of troubleshooting. Feel free to do so here! Appreciate it!
UPDATE: For those of you that have this issue across multiple games, @SamuelBarthelemy created and posted this python script to delete the files automatically: https://www.bartimus.site/blog/fixing-ea-s-directx-issues-with-python
42 Comments
LEGEND!
ty so much
FINALLY!!!!!!! Thank you so much
I can go to C:\Program Files86\Origin Games… but from there, there is no Apex folder. Origin isnt letting me Install the game at all. It just keeps giving me the same error message about the DirectX issue..
nothing has worked for me, but thank you for being kind enough to give people solutions 🙂
Thank you so much!
Finally a website with a fix that work, thank you and keep up the amazing work!
Great article, but after deleting all .cab files and running the setup I was greeted with the same message. What should I do?
@ALL – To all those who commented a thank you – You’re welcome! Happy to have saved you some trouble.
To the others who have commented that you’re still having an issue. I’ve sent you direct e-mail messages to help you troubleshoot what’s going on.
Hi Nick, I’m still having problem, can u send me the fix as well? thank you in advance 🙂
Still having this problem. I’ve tried everything from reinstalling all those C++ programs to deleting/renaming/updating any directX related things, updating drivers and even troubleshooting via cmd scan for corrupted files. At this point I’m just tired and not even interested in the game anymore :< Reinstalled it 8 times, repair tool via origin .. sometimes it gets stuck at 38 or 39% with the "directx" error, sometimes I can get it to download the full game and get the message at 100% .. if I then delete all the files like you posted above the game doesn't realise any errors but if I launch the game then it says: "There's a problem with your game's setup. Please reinstall your game."
It takes me 6 full hours to download those 12 GB and I can't do it any longer. I'm frustrated and sad. :<
i’m still having issues as well
the problem of percussion, please help me Nick
hey, i’ve done what you’ve told me to do, but to no avail, i still cant get it downloaded . what else should i do ?
Hey ! i’ve done what you’ve told me to do but i still couldn’t get it to install. same error. what do i do ?
Hey, i’ve done the steps but i still couldn’t install it . what can i do ?
Not sure why, I’ve done everything you’ve said and still nadda. Thanks for trying though.
OMG I was tearing my hair out and this fixed it!
I do have one question that I’m not sure you can answer but this seemed like the best place to ask: I’m having a similar issue with other Origin games. Is there a method you used to determine which .cab files to keep for the specific game?
Thank you so much again!
didnt work thats lit
Literally all these screbs are like just reinstall origin and im telling them it doesn’t work. Thank you, Nick, for actually finding out how to fix it, very very grateful.
Noah – thanks man. This comment made my day.
legend, save my life!!!
Nice piece of troubleshooting there. It’s appreciated.
As for EA, don’t change a thing. Keep being the team that serves as a bad example.
Everybody wins!
Lol’d at your EA comment. Thanks dude.
Thanks for the fix, I have created a write up on a python script that will automate this for all the games.
https://www.bartimus.site/blog/fixing-ea-s-directx-issues-with-python
This is awesome – thanks for putting in the work on this. I’ll update the post with this info if anyone has to do this for multiple games.
i’m not a gamer, so when my bf told me to play it, i didn’t know installing it would be the most difficult part.
thank you!
I know – I’m not exactly sure why this happens but it’s EA, so I’m not sure we’re supposed to know why.
I tried every single thing above. Nothing seems to work. I even reinstalled Origin and Apex multiple times. What more can I do?
Hi Guys,
I had the same issue and I finally managed to solve it and start apex and it runs!
After the fix described in this article the installation of directx will run without an error, but apex still won’t start, at least for me.
So I took a closer look on what’s happening and found out, that if you just delete “apr2006_d3dx9_30_x86.cab” it’s working fine, at least for me.
I have a 2060 RTX and the issue with “apr2006_d3dx9_30_x86.cab” might be related to that new graphics card.
Maybe it’s a different file for you, but you can simply identify the error-file by checking C:\windows\directx.log
the log will end with the last installed package and you just need to delete the upcoming one from your install folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex\__Installer\directx\redist) and your good to go.
hope this helps <3
There is no .cab files so what am I suppose to do now?
I just deleted all the files and left those that you said must be left but I didn’t have any .cab files but I still followed your instructions and it all worked out in the end so THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Im Still having pronblems
I’m still getting that error message… if ANYONE could help me, add me on discord: HaWe#2608
Hi, I found that deleting all the CAB files in the redist folder, then running the .exe as admin worked and allowed me the option to start playing. Also from another youtube file I took the step of disabling the Origin In Game For Apex Legends. This allowed it to give me the “Play” icon. Knowing this had stopped at 40% I have now started to download the rest of the game, I will update if there are any other erros.
Thanks 🙂 this solution worked for me aswell 🙂
Might be a little too late, but I found also keeping dxupdate and dxllreg_86 work for me. If I did not kept those files, it would have an error, hope this might help someone.
yOU aPSULute legend
TY! Works!
Thank you very much! It worked just fine for me. I’m glad people like you take the time to figure this stuff out and share it with people. You are single handedly better than the entire origin team. Thanks again buddy
he said not to delete every single cab file you need to only delete all except 2010 ones
Absolute Legend! Your fix worked like a charm for me. This was for Anthem!