Google Earth stopped working

Yesterday when I went to open Google Earth, I was prompted with:
Google Earth: 'Direct-X' mode not supported

1) Set color depth to "True Color (32 bit) in display properties
2) Start Google Earth after waiting a minute.
3) Close other applications (particularly if they use 3D).
4) Download and install DirectX 9.0C or above

My color is already at 32 bit. I changed it to 16 and then back to 32 just to see if there was a problem, no luck.
Adapter is INTEL(R) 82845G/GL/GE?PE?GV Graphics Controller. Same controller that has been in this system for years.
My version of DirectX is 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904) and no problems found when I ran dxdiag.

I try opening in OPENGL and am prompted to start in DirectX mode. I am able to open it in GL mode but it PAINFULLY slow.

Everything was working fine 2 days ago so I tried windows restore, did not fix the problem. I have run malware, nothing found. I reluctantly uninstalled and re-installed it, did not fix problem.

Any suggestions out there?

XP PRO (5.1 Build 2600)
OptiPlex GX 260
Intel P4 2.40 GHz
1022 MB RAM

Thank you!

 

There are other reports about this - seems GE has recently been updated to version 7 and XP doesn't like it. Reverting to GE v6 might fix it.

 

Thank you...that worked.

 

Google Earth was working perfectly about three weeks ago but, on returning from holiday yesterday, I experienced exactly the same problem as described by mkstainton. I also went through the same procedures as he describes before finding this thread.

My PC (Windows XP Pro) was on build 7.0.3.8542 (which is also on my netbook where it works correctly with Windows 7) so I took Earthling's advice and reverted to build 6.2.2.6613 which has resolved the problem. Needless to say, I have switched off automatic updates!

Many thanks for the excellent help.

 

Switching off automatic updates won't stop this from happening again and is not a good idea at all. It is the Google updater that has done this, not Windows Update, so that's what you have to deal with now.

 

Could you explain how to revert to V6?

Thank you

 

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Here you go -

http://www.oldapps.com/google_earth.php

 

oh - be sure to uninstall GE 7 first of course

 

That was great. Thanks