Is the DirectX 8.0 or 9.0 SDK available on CD-ROM from MS or do I have to download it? I have searched Microsoft's site and was not able to find it. It is a large download and I would prefer not to have to download. Perhaps I can buy a book that comes with a CD with the SDK on it as a last resort.
I thought they used to have downloads for DirectX, but I don't see them any more. I wonder if it has to do with this new "Windows Validation" they are requiring before you are allowed to download anything.
Try www.microsoft.com/directx - this should take you to the sdk sites. directx.microsoft.com - takes you to the xbox developer site now. It didn't used to. [Edit] looking at the page that i've posted a link to, you can only download if you go through the genuine license link they're force you through these days. If you go through that link for the valid windows license, it asks you if you want to validate and download or skip the validation and still download it. Either way you should be able to get it. I've also just noticed that they've stopped supporting windows 2000 in directx for the latest version. Win98 and Millenium are supported though! How odd.
Not as bad as it sounds, they've dropped support for developing on 2000. Basically you can only develop in Dx on XP now. Not a terrible hardship in 2005. Still runs fine on 2k.