Reading Windows

With the huge number of techies over here, I know there's a few of you who can help with my problem.

I got Need For Speed:Most Wanted (Black ed.) for Christmas. One of the few things I specifically asked for. This made me very happy. I immediately went to install it.

The first problem is that I have no text in the EULA agreement box. Normally I wouldn't really care about these things, but there should be text there. What am I agreeing to, after all. I'm also wondering if it's not in someway related to the next problem, the much bigger one.
The second problem is that it doesn't recognize the installation of Direct X 9.0c. At the end of the Runtime Components check, where it would normally update the components, it pops-out a box that states that I need to install version 9.0c or higher for the game to install. Then it tells me the update is available from microsoft/etc...

My system:
Win 2000pro (o.e.m.) with sp4 installed, Asus V9400 (8xagp-128mb ddr), Asus A8V Deluxe, Ath64 3000 cpu, 512 Kingstom RAMM--pc3200, WestDig ATA-100 HD(x2).

Diagnostics:
I returned the original disc because I thought that it was defective. The exchanged disc is doing exactly the same thing.
The DXDiag tool registers no problems with the dx 9c install. There are no funny symbols next to any device in device manager.
I have all updates to Win2kpro; All updates to video card; All hdwe exceeds requirements.
I have tried using the compatability tool that comes on the Win2K disc.

Action:
I am corresponding to the tech support of EA games, and this is the point we're at in solving this problem. Think it's time to open source it :)
Perhaps this problem might require a few good minds working on it...call it shared processing if you will.

Once Fred Neitszche declared God is Dead, f*ck became the most important word in the English languag

This post was edited by zen on Dec 27, 2005.

Hey zen,

i' too' am having this exact problem. I've repeated your actions in installing fresh drivers and card software, checked out my version of direct x, and still no luck. Did you ever get this problem fixed?

I'd love to hear a success story!

thanks, chris s