iPod Coverflow not working...says DirectX 9 or later must be installed.

Windows XP (SP1) machine, iTunes version 7.4.0.28. I do have Directx9 after running dxdiag and checking the info there, and per the instructions here...

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304402

I checked DirectDraw and Direct 3D Acceleration, and both of them are enabled.



This is the exact message I get when trying to use Coverflow:

"iTunes is unable to browse album covers on this computer because DirectX 9 or later is not installed."

Note that it does not only say "iTunes is unable to browse album covers on this computer"...that last bit about DirectX 9 is included as well, but as I said, I have it.
This is white text on a black screen, not white text on a gray screen.

Any ideas before I throw my laptop against a wall?

Tibwolf said:

If it helps, Coverflow is completely useless to me on a computer.

It is a huge hassle trying to look through large libraries of music

Click to expand...

Sorry, it doesn't help.

Jacksteruk309 said:

You might want to install Windows XP SP2? XP SP1 is pretty outdated now.

SP2 is a free update from Microsoft's website, or from Windows Update. Who knows, it could be the source of your problem, Apple probably expects all their Windows stuff to run on XP SP2 or Vista.

Click to expand...

Is this OK to do (read, "am I going to have tons and tons of problems doing this")? I've heard nothing but horror stories of people updating to SP2, and I thought this has still been the case.

Thing is, this has worked before on SP1.