I get pink boxes on one of my games when I try to play it, what does that mean?

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I get pink boxes on one of my games when I try to play it, what does that mean?

Michael Montana 0

One of my many games is Build a Lot Power source and when I open it to play on my PC, there are these pink boxes that appear on the game making it impossible to play. What is causing this and what can be done to correct it. User's image

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Answer 1

Hendrix-V 5,065 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Michael Montana,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum! I understand how frustrating it can be to have unexpected pink boxes that make the game unplayable. The pink boxes usually appear when the game can’t load certain textures or effects.

Here are my suggested steps that you can try to resolve the issue:

1 - Update your graphics driver

Download and install the latest driver from your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). A clean reinstall often works best.

2 - Install DirectX End-User Runtime (June 2010)

Go to Microsoft’s official download page: DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer
Click “Download” and save the file (dxwebsetup.exe).
Run the installer then follow the prompts to complete installation.
Restart your PC after installation.

This will add the missing DirectX 9.0c components that many older games need, without changing your current DirectX 12/11 setup.

I look forward to receiving your update. Let me know which solution works for you or if your problem persists and you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment". Thanks for your effort.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have additional questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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Hendrix-V 5,065 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-24T23:53:29.46+00:00

Hi,

I just wanted to follow up and check if the information I provided was helpful. If you have any further questions or updates regarding this issue, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section. I'd be happy to assist you.

If you found my response helpful, kindly consider accepting it so others with similar concerns can benefit from the information as well.
Michael Montana 0 Reputation points

2025-10-25T16:46:07.5433333+00:00

Thank you for your suggestions. I guess I will just forget about this game and use the other games on my computer. The process you suggested is beyond my knowledge of computers and nothing that I wish to attempt, but I do appreciate your response.
Hendrix-V 5,065 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-26T00:02:28.1466667+00:00

Hi Michael Montana,

Thank you for keeping me updated on this issue. Let me give you a brief explanation on the steps above for your peace of mind.

Pink boxes are placeholders for missing textures. Updating drivers and adding legacy DirectX files can restore the game’s ability to render correctly, since many older games like Build-a-Lot: Power Source expect those DirectX 9 files. Even on Windows 10/11 you can (and should) install the DirectX End‑User Runtime (June 2010).

I understand this could be overwhelming for you and I appreciate your truthful sharing. If you have additional questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to me in the "Comment" section. Thanks for your effort.

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I get pink boxes on one of my games when I try to play it, what does that mean?

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