It's still not working here
I don't really want to download the dxsdk (over 400 Mb!)
Btw. Im runing XP (SP3), GTS-8800, Intel-Dualcore, latest directX. I never had troubles with missing dx-components so far...and yes I did erase the "$" and copied the files into the proper folders. I also cleared the plugin folder and put the plugins back one by one...diden't help