Panzer Elite Action: Dunes of War (cont'd from General) #570

stahlhart06 · 2026-06-23T22:19:21Z

stahlhart06
Jun 23, 2026

As a continuation of my post in the General section on April 21:

I was recently able to get Dunes of War running by merging library files from the free single player demo (1.44.07) with the Steam version (1.44.12). I ended up with another demo, in the sense that the game's main menu is restricted -- I have the ability to access all of the single player maps, and the campaign progresses to the next mission normally when the previous one is successfully completed, but there is no access to multiplayer or "instant battle", and no ability to load a game from a previous save or check point.

The sticking point for version 1.44.12 is a file called "directx.renderer", which appears to be a library or .DLL file, as I can load and execute it separately in x32dbg. For the 1.44.07 demo, the game's logging, dxwrapper's logging, and x32dbg logging show the following for a normal launch (these are edited for brevity/focus):

[Game logging]

  |  50 |     36.73kb | xubl version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
  |  70 |   1064.34kb | Library 'xscript.dll' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
  |  50 |   1067.44kb | ::XublMain() info: start.
  | 100 |   1724.23kb | TKeyboardAction::LoadFromDatabase('togglewatch') error: variable 'keys' not found.
  | 100 |   1724.24kb | TKeyboardAction::LoadFromDatabase('managerinfo') error: variable 'keys' not found.
  |  70 |   1729.72kb | Library 'xdynamics.dll' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
  |  70 |   1739.25kb | Library 'vscompiler.dll' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
  |  70 |   1942.11kb | Library 'directx.renderer' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.

3.594 | 70 | 1972.88kb | 4.875 | 50 | 1986.99kb | 4.875 | 50 | 1987.00kb | 4.875 | 50 | 1987.00kb | 4.906 | 70 | 1991.45kb | 4.922 | 70 | 1991.53kb | 4.938 | 70 | 1991.55kb | 5.047 | 70 | 1991.63kb | 5.078 | 70 | 1995.79kb | 5.110 | 70 | 1995.81kb | 5.141 | 70 | 1995.81kb | 5.172 | 50 | 1991.78kb | 8.422 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 8.438 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 8.438 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 8.438 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 8.438 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 8.438 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 8.438 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 8.438 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 8.438 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 8.438 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 9.750 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 9.750 | 50 | 2012.18kb | 9.750 | 50 | 2018.57kb | .
.
. 320.5kb | Library 'xpanzer.dll' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
323.8kb | Setting Texture quality to qExtra and NormalMap quality to qHigh.
323.8kb | texturevideocachesize 60
323.8kb | vertexvideocachesize 20
323.8kb | Library 'common.plugin' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
323.8kb | Library 'console.plugin' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
323.8kb | Library 'smbios.plugin' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
323.8kb | Library 'xflash.plugin' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
323.8kb | Library 'xlight.plugin' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
323.8kb | Library 'xportal.plugin' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
323.8kb | Library 'xreport.plugin' version 1.44.07 - Panzer Addon mode 'final'.
323.8kb | ::XublMain() info: initialize.
323.8kb | SetFocus!
323.8kb | ------------- GPU Information --------------
323.8kb | * Description : NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
323.8kb | * Driver name : nvldumd.dll
323.8kb | --------------------------------------------
323.8kb | * Product : 32
323.8kb | * Version : 0
323.8kb | * Subversion : 15
323.8kb | * Build : 9649
323.8kb | ------------End GPU Information ------------
323.8kb | IDirect3D8::CreateDevice() info: device created.
323.8kb | DirectX::CreateDevice()
327.8kb | TDxCanvas::Initialize()

[dxwrapper logging]

26472 20:11:07.575 Starting DxWrapper v1.4.7900.25
26472 20:11:07.575 Running from: E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\dxwrapper.dll (52860000)
26472 20:11:07.575 Reading config file: E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\dxwrapper.ini
26472 20:11:07.575 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
26472 20:11:07.576 Windows 10 Enterprise 64-bit (10.0.26100)
26472 20:11:07.576 Windows 11 64-bit (10.0.26100)
26472 20:11:07.576 pea.exe (PID:23804)
26472 20:11:07.576 "E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\pea.exe"
26472 20:11:07.582 Environment variable __COMPAT_LAYER = ""
26472 20:11:07.582 Windows is newer than, Windows Vista: 1 Windows 7: 1 Windows 8: 1
26472 20:11:07.582 Disabling High DPI Scaling...
26472 20:11:07.582 Loaded library: user32.dll
26472 20:11:07.582 Loaded library: shcore.dll
26472 20:11:07.582 Enabling d3d8to9 wrapper
26472 20:11:07.582 Loading 'd3d8.dll'...
26472 20:11:07.582 Hooking d3d8.dll APIs...
26472 20:11:07.582 Enabling d3d9 wrapper
26472 20:11:07.582 Loading 'd3d9.dll'...
26472 20:11:07.590 Loaded library: winmm.dll
26472 20:11:07.593 Installing memory management hooks
26472 20:11:07.593 Installing messaging hooks
26472 20:11:07.593 Installing version hooks
26472 20:11:07.594 Installing display mode hooks
26472 20:11:07.595 Installing registry hooks
26472 20:11:07.595 Installing Win32 hooks
26472 20:11:07.595 DxWrapper loaded!
15764 20:11:07.676 Starting fullscreen thread...
26472 20:11:09.317 d8_Direct3DCreate8
26472 20:11:09.317 Direct3D9SetSwapEffectUpgradeShim Calling 'Direct3D9SetSwapEffectUpgradeShim' ... 0
26472 20:11:09.317 Starting D3d8to9 v1.13.0.0
26472 20:11:09.317 Redirecting 'Direct3DCreate8' to --> 'Direct3DCreate9' (220)
26472 20:11:09.317 d9_Direct3DCreate9
26472 20:11:09.317 Direct3D9DisableMaximizedWindowedMode Calling 'Direct3D9EnableMaximizedWindowedModeShim' to disable MaximizedWindowedMode ...
26472 20:11:09.320 Redirecting 'Direct3DCreate9' ...
26472 20:11:12.511 Creating interface m_IDirect3D9Ex::m_IDirect3D9Ex (0CA05128) IID_IDirect3D9
26472 20:11:12.511 m_IDirect3D9Ex::LogAdapterNames Adapter: 0 \.\DISPLAY1 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
26472 20:11:12.579 WndProc::AddWndProc Creating WndProc instance! WND(00120BF8,xublDxFrameWindow,{5000,-32768,5816,-32129})
26472 20:11:13.883 Creating interface m_IDirect3DDevice9Ex::m_IDirect3DDevice9Ex (0CD45200) IID_IDirect3DDevice9 game interface v8
26472 20:11:13.884 Creating interface m_IDirect3DSurface9::m_IDirect3DSurface9 (0CA1EE98)
26472 20:11:13.884 Creating interface m_IDirect3DSurface9::m_IDirect3DSurface9 (0CD45498)
26472 20:11:13.894 Creating interface m_IDirect3DVertexBuffer9::m_IDirect3DVertexBuffer9 (0CDE28E0)
.
.
.

[x32dbg logging]

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.
.
DLL Loaded: 06610000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\directx.renderer
DLL Unloaded: 06610000 directx.renderer
DLL Loaded: 06610000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\directx.renderer
DLL Loaded: 75D30000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ole32.dll
DLL Loaded: 6C6D0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dinput8.dll
DLL Loaded: 761D0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\oleaut32.dll
DLL Loaded: 74D60000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dsound.dll
DLL Loaded: 53FD0000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\d3d8.dll
DLL Loaded: 6E880000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\IPHLPAPI.DLL
DLL Loaded: 74BC0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\RESAMPLEDMO.DLL
DLL Loaded: 74C60000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\powrprof.dll
DLL Loaded: 06700000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\powrprof.dll
DLL Unloaded: 06700000 powrprof.dll
DLL Loaded: 74B90000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\winmmbase.dll
DLL Loaded: 74B80000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msdmo.dll
DLL Loaded: 06700000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\vscompiler.dll
DLL Unloaded: 06700000 vscompiler.dll
DLL Loaded: 06700000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\DBGHELP.DLL
DLL Unloaded: 06700000 dbghelp.dll
DLL Loaded: 06700000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\vscompiler.dll
DLL Loaded: 06740000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\DBGHELP.DLL
Breakpoint at 529EF22A (TLS Callback 1 (dxwrapper.dll)) set!
Breakpoint at 529EF2AE (TLS Callback 2 (dxwrapper.dll)) set!
DLL Loaded: 52860000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\dxwrapper.dll
DLL Loaded: 74CC0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\oleacc.dll
DLL Loaded: 69CA0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\DXCore.dll
INT3 breakpoint "TLS Callback 1 (dxwrapper.dll)" at dxwrapper.529EF22A!
INT3 breakpoint "TLS Callback 2 (dxwrapper.dll)" at dxwrapper.529EF2AE!
DLL Loaded: 74980000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\version.dll
DLL Loaded: 53F60000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\d3d9.dll
DLL Loaded: 64D20000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\d3d9.dll
DLL Loaded: 6D690000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dwmapi.dll
DLL Loaded: 6A2D0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ddraw.dll
DLL Loaded: 69D20000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dxgi.dll
DLL Loaded: 69D10000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dciman32.dll
DLL Loaded: 74B60000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\umpdc.dll
DLL Loaded: 606E0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\apphelp.dll
Thread 15764 created, Entry: dxwrapper.529C4F60, Parameter: 00000000
Thread 26616 created, Entry: ntdll.773F6A00, Parameter: 011918D8
DLL Loaded: 07670000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War Singleplayer Demo\xmiles.renderer
.
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.

Here is 1.44.12 attempting launch on Windows 11:

[Game logging]

| 50 | 36.78kb | xubl version 1.44.12 mode 'final'.
| 70 | 1068.57kb | Library 'xscript.dll' version 1.44.12 mode 'final'.
| 50 | 1071.67kb | ::XublMain() info: start.
| 100 | 3014.10kb | TKeyboardAction::LoadFromDatabase('togglewatch') error: variable 'keys' not found.
| 100 | 3014.11kb | TKeyboardAction::LoadFromDatabase('managerinfo') error: variable 'keys' not found.
| 70 | 3023.58kb | Library 'xdynamics.dll' version 1.44.12 mode 'final'.
| 70 | 3029.09kb | Library 'vscompiler.dll' version 1.44.12 mode 'final'.

[dxwrapper logging]

39752 11:03:58.633 Starting DxWrapper v1.4.7900.25
39752 11:03:58.633 Running from: E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\dxwrapper.dll (5DF80000)
39752 11:03:58.633 Reading config file: E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\dxwrapper.ini
39752 11:03:58.634 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
39752 11:03:58.634 Windows 10 Enterprise 64-bit (10.0.26100)
39752 11:03:58.634 Windows 11 64-bit (10.0.26100)
39752 11:03:58.634 pea.exe (PID:20248)
39752 11:03:58.634 "E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\pea.exe"
39752 11:03:58.640 Environment variable __COMPAT_LAYER = ""
39752 11:03:58.640 Windows is newer than, Windows Vista: 1 Windows 7: 1 Windows 8: 1
39752 11:03:58.640 Disabling High DPI Scaling...
39752 11:03:58.640 Loaded library: user32.dll
39752 11:03:58.640 Loaded library: shcore.dll
39752 11:03:58.640 Enabling d3d8to9 wrapper
39752 11:03:58.640 Loading 'd3d8.dll'...
39752 11:03:58.640 Hooking d3d8.dll APIs...
39752 11:03:58.640 Enabling d3d9 wrapper
39752 11:03:58.640 Loading 'd3d9.dll'...
39752 11:03:58.643 Hooking d3d9.dll APIs...
39752 11:03:58.643 Loaded library: winmm.dll
39752 11:03:58.644 Installing memory management hooks
39752 11:03:58.644 Installing messaging hooks
39752 11:03:58.644 Installing version hooks
39752 11:03:58.644 Installing display mode hooks
39752 11:03:58.645 Installing registry hooks
39752 11:03:58.645 Installing Win32 hooks
39752 11:03:58.645 DxWrapper loaded!

[x32dbg logging]

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DLL Loaded: 06A40000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\directx.renderer
DLL Unloaded: 06A40000 directx.renderer
DLL Loaded: 06A40000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\directx.renderer
DLL Loaded: 75D30000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ole32.dll
DLL Loaded: 74D60000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dsound.dll
DLL Loaded: 6C6D0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dinput8.dll
DLL Loaded: 761D0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\oleaut32.dll
DLL Loaded: 53FD0000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\d3d8.dll
DLL Loaded: 6E880000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\IPHLPAPI.DLL
DLL Loaded: 74BC0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\RESAMPLEDMO.DLL
DLL Loaded: 74C60000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\powrprof.dll
DLL Loaded: 06B30000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\powrprof.dll
DLL Unloaded: 06B30000 powrprof.dll
DLL Loaded: 74B90000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\winmmbase.dll
DLL Loaded: 74B80000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msdmo.dll
DLL Loaded: 06B30000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\vscompiler.dll
DLL Unloaded: 06B30000 vscompiler.dll
DLL Loaded: 59A60000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\dbghelp.dll
DLL Loaded: 74980000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\version.dll
DLL Loaded: 06B30000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\vscompiler.dll
Breakpoint at 529EF22A (TLS Callback 1 (dxwrapper.dll)) set!
Breakpoint at 529EF2AE (TLS Callback 2 (dxwrapper.dll)) set!
DLL Loaded: 52860000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\dxwrapper.dll
DLL Loaded: 74CC0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\oleacc.dll
DLL Loaded: 69CA0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\DXCore.dll
INT3 breakpoint "TLS Callback 1 (dxwrapper.dll)" at dxwrapper.529EF22A!
INT3 breakpoint "TLS Callback 2 (dxwrapper.dll)" at dxwrapper.529EF2AE!
DLL Loaded: 53F60000 E:\Program Files (x86)\JoWood\Panzer Elite Action - Dunes of War\d3d9.dll
DLL Loaded: 64D20000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\d3d9.dll
DLL Loaded: 6D690000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dwmapi.dll
DLL Loaded: 6A2D0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ddraw.dll
DLL Loaded: 69D20000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dxgi.dll
DLL Loaded: 69D10000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dciman32.dll
DLL Loaded: 74B60000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\umpdc.dll
DLL Loaded: 606E0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\apphelp.dll
Thread 8164 created, Entry: ntdll.773F6A00, Parameter: 00EE18D8
DLL Loaded: 53EB0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mscms.dll
DLL Loaded: 74B40000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\kernel.appcore.dll
DLL Loaded: 75800000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\bcryptprimitives.dll
DLL Loaded: 75230000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\clbcatq.dll
DLL Loaded: 53E30000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Windows.Internal.Graphics.Display.DisplayColorManagement.dll
DLL Loaded: 74DE0000 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cfgmgr32.dll
Thread 20676 created, Entry: shcore.75750D90, Parameter: 00F254D8

At this point, the game launching hangs, and the main executable process (pea.exe) needs to be killed in Task Manager.

The one thing that stands out to me in the failed launch is that a thread for dxwrapper is not created as it is in the case for the successful launch of the 1.44.07 demo (Thread 15674). From here, the Miles (3D audio) renderer begins loading, which suggests that the loading of directx.renderer has completed, and from here the remainder of the game loading/launching proceeds normally.

Could the inability of the dxwrapper thread to start possibly offer any insight as to why the 1.44.12 version of directx.renderer hangs the game executable, but the earlier 1.44.07 version of the file launches normally? One thing I wonder about is exactly why it was updated, given that the earlier version was working fine. The date of the update to the game to 1.44.12 is November of 2006, which leads me to wonder if Vista (DX10?) had anything to do with it. I compared the two files in a hex editor and they look very similar (not much else I can do without source code).

Can anyone assist, or is there a more detailed logging or trace for dxwrapper? I can provide files from (or complete installations of) the game if it would help with troubleshooting.

stahlhart06 · 2026-07-02T11:07:43Z

stahlhart06
Jul 2, 2026
Author

As it turned out, I was able to get the game working by alternate means: hacking the library file that controls the main menu in a hex editor to enable all of the disabled functions of the 1.44.07 demo. It was pure dumb luck on my part.

I am still curious as to why the 1.44.12 update to the directx.renderer file broke the game for Windows 10/11. but at least the game can be fully played now.

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Panzer Elite Action: Dunes of War (cont'd from General) #570

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Panzer Elite Action: Dunes of War (cont'd from General) #570

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stahlhart06 Jun 23, 2026

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stahlhart06 Jul 2, 2026 Author

stahlhart06
Jun 23, 2026

stahlhart06
Jul 2, 2026
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