ERROR: The NULL device is missing from your system

Hi,

I am learning DirectX using a tutorial and when I try to compile a code which has

#include <d3dx9.h>

I got the error as though I have Microsoft DirectX SDK (March 2009)

error PRJ0015 : The NULL device is missing from your system. We are unable to launch a build.

According to MSDN, I have closed all applications, restarted the computer.I am the admin of this machine. I have also checked my system for any trace of malware with "malwarebytes" and "GMER". I have not found any.

Can someone tall me what this error is and how to remove it.

Code:

---

// include the basic windows header files and the Direct3D header file
#include <windows.h>
#include <windowsx.h>
#include <d3d9.h>
#include <d3dx9.h>

// define the screen resolution and keyboard macros
#define SCREEN_WIDTH 800
#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 600
#define KEY_DOWN(vk_code) ((GetAsyncKeyState(vk_code) & 0x8000) ? 1 : 0)
#define KEY_UP(vk_code) ((GetAsyncKeyState(vk_code) & 0x8000) ? 0 : 1)

// include the Direct3D Library files
#pragma comment (lib, "d3d9.lib")
#pragma comment (lib, "d3dx9.lib")

// global declarations
LPDIRECT3D9 d3d;    // the pointer to our Direct3D interface
LPDIRECT3DDEVICE9 d3ddev;    // the pointer to the device class
LPDIRECT3DVERTEXBUFFER9 v_buffer = NULL;    // the pointer to the vertex buffer

// function prototypes
void initD3D(HWND hWnd);    // sets up and initializes Direct3D
void render_frame(void);    // renders a single frame
void cleanD3D(void);    // closes Direct3D and releases memory
void init_graphics(void);    // 3D declarations

struct CUSTOMVERTEX {FLOAT X, Y, Z; DWORD COLOR;};
#define CUSTOMFVF (D3DFVF_XYZ | D3DFVF_DIFFUSE)

// the WindowProc function prototype
LRESULT CALLBACK WindowProc(HWND hWnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam);


// the entry point for any Windows program
int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance,
                  HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
                  LPSTR lpCmdLine,
                  int nCmdShow)
{
    HWND hWnd;
    WNDCLASSEX wc;

    ZeroMemory(&wc, sizeof(WNDCLASSEX));

    wc.cbSize = sizeof(WNDCLASSEX);
    wc.style = CS_HREDRAW | CS_VREDRAW;
    wc.lpfnWndProc = WindowProc;
    wc.hInstance = hInstance;
    wc.hCursor = LoadCursor(NULL, IDC_ARROW);
    wc.lpszClassName = L"WindowClass";

    RegisterClassEx(&wc);

    hWnd = CreateWindowEx(NULL, (LPSTR)L"WindowClass", (LPSTR)L"Our Direct3D Program",
                          WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW, 0, 0, SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT,
                          NULL, NULL, hInstance, NULL);

    ShowWindow(hWnd, nCmdShow);

    // set up and initialize Direct3D
    initD3D(hWnd);

    // enter the main loop:

    MSG msg;

    while(TRUE)
    {
        while(PeekMessage(&msg, NULL, 0, 0, PM_REMOVE))
        {
            TranslateMessage(&msg);
            DispatchMessage(&msg);
        }

        if(msg.message == WM_QUIT)
            break;

        render_frame();

        if(KEY_DOWN(VK_ESCAPE))
            PostMessage(hWnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0);
    }

    // clean up DirectX and COM
    cleanD3D();

    return msg.wParam;
}


// this is the main message handler for the program
LRESULT CALLBACK WindowProc(HWND hWnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    switch(message)
    {
        case WM_DESTROY:
            {
                PostQuitMessage(0);
                return 0;
            } break;
    }

    return DefWindowProc (hWnd, message, wParam, lParam);
}


// this function initializes and prepares Direct3D for use
void initD3D(HWND hWnd)
{
    d3d = Direct3DCreate9(D3D_SDK_VERSION);

    D3DPRESENT_PARAMETERS d3dpp;

    ZeroMemory(&d3dpp, sizeof(d3dpp));
    d3dpp.Windowed = TRUE;
    d3dpp.SwapEffect = D3DSWAPEFFECT_DISCARD;
    d3dpp.hDeviceWindow = hWnd;
    d3dpp.BackBufferFormat = D3DFMT_X8R8G8B8;
    d3dpp.BackBufferWidth = SCREEN_WIDTH;
    d3dpp.BackBufferHeight = SCREEN_HEIGHT;

    // create a device class using this information and the info from the d3dpp stuct
    d3d->CreateDevice(D3DADAPTER_DEFAULT,
                      D3DDEVTYPE_HAL,
                      hWnd,
                      D3DCREATE_SOFTWARE_VERTEXPROCESSING,
                      &d3dpp,
                      &d3ddev);

    init_graphics();    // call the function to initialize the triangle

    d3ddev->SetRenderState(D3DRS_LIGHTING, FALSE);    // turn off the 3D lighting
}


// this is the function used to render a single frame
void render_frame(void)
{
    d3ddev->Clear(0, NULL, D3DCLEAR_TARGET, D3DCOLOR_XRGB(0, 0, 0), 1.0f, 0);

    d3ddev->BeginScene();

    // select which vertex format we are using
    d3ddev->SetFVF(CUSTOMFVF);

    // SET UP THE PIPELINE

    D3DXMATRIX matRotateY;    // a matrix to store the rotation information

    static float index = 0.0f; index+=0.05f;    // an ever-increasing float value

    // build a matrix to rotate the model based on the increasing float value
    D3DXMatrixRotationY(&matRotateY, index);

    // tell Direct3D about our matrix
    d3ddev->SetTransform(D3DTS_WORLD, &matRotateY);

    D3DXMATRIX matView;    // the view transform matrix

    D3DXMatrixLookAtLH(&matView,
                      &D3DXVECTOR3 (0.0f, 0.0f, 10.0f),    // the camera position
                      &D3DXVECTOR3 (0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f),    // the look-at position
                      &D3DXVECTOR3 (0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f));    // the up direction

    d3ddev->SetTransform(D3DTS_VIEW, &matView);    // set the view transform to matView

    D3DXMATRIX matProjection;    // the projection transform matrix

    D3DXMatrixPerspectiveFovLH(&matProjection,
                              D3DXToRadian(45),    // the horizontal field of view
                              (FLOAT)SCREEN_WIDTH / (FLOAT)SCREEN_HEIGHT, // aspect ratio
                              1.0f,    // the near view-plane
                              100.0f);    // the far view-plane

    d3ddev->SetTransform(D3DTS_PROJECTION, &matProjection);    // set the projection

    // select the vertex buffer to display
    d3ddev->SetStreamSource(0, v_buffer, 0, sizeof(CUSTOMVERTEX));

    // copy the vertex buffer to the back buffer
    d3ddev->DrawPrimitive(D3DPT_TRIANGLELIST, 0, 1);

    d3ddev->EndScene();

    d3ddev->Present(NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
}


// this is the function that cleans up Direct3D and COM
void cleanD3D(void)
{
    v_buffer->Release();    // close and release the vertex buffer
    d3ddev->Release();    // close and release the 3D device
    d3d->Release();    // close and release Direct3D
}


// this is the function that puts the 3D models into video RAM
void init_graphics(void)
{
    // create the vertices using the CUSTOMVERTEX struct
    CUSTOMVERTEX vertices[] =
    {
        { 3.0f, -3.0f, 0.0f, D3DCOLOR_XRGB(0, 0, 255), },
        { 0.0f, 3.0f, 0.0f, D3DCOLOR_XRGB(0, 255, 0), },
        { -3.0f, -3.0f, 0.0f, D3DCOLOR_XRGB(255, 0, 0), },
    };

    // create a vertex buffer interface called t_buffer
    d3ddev->CreateVertexBuffer(3*sizeof(CUSTOMVERTEX),
                              0,
                              CUSTOMFVF,
                              D3DPOOL_MANAGED,
                              &v_buffer,
                              NULL);

    VOID* pVoid;    // a void pointer

    // lock v_buffer and load the vertices into it
    v_buffer->Lock(0, 0, (void**)&pVoid, 0);
    memcpy(pVoid, vertices, sizeof(vertices));
    v_buffer->Unlock();
}

---

Try reinstalling the SDK. Might be something there.

I guess, I have found the solution. The null device is missing from Device Manager. I had to re-install the windows. Now I can see it.

Thanks for reply.

Looks like now I am stuck with an another problem.

When I try to run it in Debug mode I am getting an error message saying "Unhandled exception at 0x004013be in EDxL1.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation reading location 0x00000000."

VS is pointing out to the block of

Code:

---

void init_graphics(void)
{
    // create the vertices using the CUSTOMVERTEX struct
    CUSTOMVERTEX vertices[] =
    {
        { 3.0f, -3.0f, 0.0f, D3DCOLOR_XRGB(0, 0, 255), },
        { 0.0f, 3.0f, 0.0f, D3DCOLOR_XRGB(0, 255, 0), },
        { -3.0f, -3.0f, 0.0f, D3DCOLOR_XRGB(255, 0, 0), },
    };

    // create a vertex buffer interface called t_buffer
  d3ddev->CreateVertexBuffer(3*sizeof(CUSTOMVERTEX),
                              0,
                              CUSTOMFVF,
                              D3DPOOL_MANAGED,
                              &v_buffer,
                              NULL);
    VOID* pVoid;    // a void pointer

    // lock v_buffer and load the vertices into it
    v_buffer->Lock(0, 0, (void**)&pVoid, 0);
    memcpy(pVoid, vertices, sizeof(vertices));
    v_buffer->Unlock();
}

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Can someone please help me with this.

Thanks in advance.