What does DirectX do.

DirectX provides a key set of tools and commands to enhance games and other multimedia applications allowing the hardware and the software to "talk" to each other with much greater ease. The API gives multimedia applications greater access to the advanced features of high-performance hardware such as three-dimensional (3D) graphics acceleration chips and uber sound cards. They also control many other lower-level functions; this includes two-dimensional (2D) graphics acceleration; support for the wide range of input devices such as joysticks/joy-pads, keyboards, mice, controls sound mixing and sound output on a vast range of audio hardware, controls networking and multiplayer gaming, and control over various multimedia streaming formats.

With each new revision, more feature support is added for emerging technology so that developers can begin to use that new technology as soon as possible, and hopefully, bringing the technology to us sooner. Major Components: The following are the major components (with their related function) that make up DirectX:

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DirectDraw - 2D Graphics
Direct3D - 3D Graphics
DirectSound - 2D Sound
DirectSound3D - 3D Sound
DirectMusic - Music
DirectPlay - Network/Multiplayer
DirectInput - Input Devices

What is DirectX?

DirectX is a set of multimedia Application Programming Interfaces (API's) written by Microsoft. It is a collection of Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) that contain functions useful to a wide range of multimedia programmers, but are all almost entirely platform independent. This allows programmers access to fast graphics, sound, and input functions while not needing their apps to test for the capabilities of the computer on which their program is running. DirectX will evaluate these capabilities and if they are not present, DirectX may attempt (in many cases) to emulate the functions in software instead of hardware.

Another feature of DirectX is the capability of DirectX applications to run side by side with non DirectX applications without causing any system problems. Lastly, DirectX would have the performance that was capable in DOS while meeting all the other specifications

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Removing adware and spyware

There are free programs that will scan your hard drive and remove adware and spyware for you. Gresser recommends Spybot-Search and Destroy and Spyware Doctor 5.0, which will scan your hard drive and guide you through removing adware and spyware.
Make sure to install the newest versions, just as you would install the latest versions of your antivirus and firewall software. Run them once a week to remove bad files that you may have downloaded to your computer.
The free MSN Toolbar blocks pop-up ads. You can actually see how many ads the toolbar has blocked while you are online. If you’ve downloaded something that has infected your computer, you can also try using Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool. It checks computers for malicious software — computer viruses, Trojan horses and worms — and helps remove it. You can also use System Restore, which rolls the computer back to a time before the offending programs were installed. (Note: This command will not affect e-mail or Office documents created after that time. It just affects programs that were installed and/or system changes such as added hardware.)

Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. The wizard will guide you through the process and ask you to select a date when you feel your computer was last working properly.

Click with caution

It can happen in a second. Just one wrong click of your mouse and you have an unwanted new home page or toolbar, a multitude of pop-up ads, strange desktop icons or all of the above.
If this sounds familiar, your computer is probably the victim of adware or spyware, or both. Adware is software that tracks your surfing habits and generates pop-up ads. Spyware, the more dangerous of the two, covertly records your keystrokes, surfing habits, passwords, credit card numbers, e-mail addresses and other confidential information through your Internet connection, and reports them back to advertisers.

Uncover where the unwanted programs came fromThere are several ways you can become the recipient of unsolicited information or material. Sometimes web sites will throw you to other undesirable sites. Even a simple keyword search in your search engine could turn up links to inappropriate content. Clicking one of these sites by accident could infect your computer.
Other mistakes people make are innocently clicking the Yes button when a web site asks you to install software before viewing a page or when a pop-up window asks you to make a certain URL your home page.
Some web sites use a pop-up window that issues a “security alert” on your computer and prompts you to download a program to “fix” the problem. By clicking on that button, you could install spyware on your computer. In addition, inexperienced web users, such as children playing an online game, could be enticed by the language that advertises a product and click a link or button on a pop-up window. Some shareware and freeware programs are bundled with adware and spyware. Freeware refers to programs that you use at no cost; shareware refers to programs you try for free and, if you like them, pay a small fee to continue use after your trial period expires. Examples include file-sharing programs, antivirus software, FTP clients, firewalls, games and others. Of course, not all of these programs will install junk on your computer.

Anti Virus For Gamers

Among out of the market as below

Most everyone realizes that antivirus and firewalls are must-have protection. But when protection interferes with online gaming, it can be sorely tempting to disable that protection in favor of uninterrupted play. These antivirus scanners tackle the unique problems of gamers so you can play without sacrificing performance or protection. In addition to being game friendly, each of the scanners below has demonstrated superior detection capabilities through certification bodies such as Virus Bulletin, ICSA Labs, and Checkmark, as well as independent testing from AV-Test.org and AV-Comparatives.org.

instead of AVG, Northon, Mcfee and etc... you may try this

Avira Premium Security Suite

Avira Premium Security Suite has low impact on system performance but offers a full range of protection, from antivirus and spyware protection, to firewall, email scanning, phishing filter and rootkit detection. Beginning in August 2007, Avira Premium Security Suite also offers "Game Mode" - the ability to put the protection in auto-pilot so you're not disturbed by warning dialogs while playing online. Plus, a proceed of each sale goes to the Auerbach Foundation, supporting various charitable and social organizations, so you can game better and feel better at the same time.

Eset NOD32 Antivirus

Eset's NOD32 antivirus software features a tiny system footprint and extremely fast scanning throughput, ideal for hard core gamers who want to squeeze every bit of performance they can out of their systems. However, it's a standalone virus scanner which still needs to be boosted by a firewall.

ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite

ZoneAlarm Internet Security doesn't have quite the low impact footprint of Avira or Nod32, but it does offer Game Mode. Like Avira, a simple right click option on the system tray icon will put ZoneAlarm in 'auto pilot' so it will silently make most decisions and you can play uninterrupted. The small trade-off in performance is a bit of extra protection. In addition to the standard fare of antivirus, firewall, and spyware protection, ZoneAlarm Internet Security also includes specific IM protection, parental controls, privacy, and wireless protection. Plus it includes specific protection and policy control for IM communications.

Anti virus vs Gammers

Anti virus vs Gammers

Security software is, by nature, very suspicious. Sometimes one suite won't install if it detects registry ghosts of another, long-uninstalled competitor. Several registry witch hunts, about 30 reboots, hours of gaming, and log spelunking later, we have what we believe we present as a report on how a handful of antivirus programs affects gaming performance.
Gamers don't trust AV (anti-virus). They often switch it off before they launch into STALKER's clear skied neighborhood or the groaning mining platform of Dead Space.
Lately, companies that make the Norton and the BitDefender franchises have created "game friendly" antivirus programs that leverage a small, or a total lack of, a performance hit on games. How well do they stack up—not only to the competition, but to freebies such as Grisoft's AVG?

click http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2336632,00.asp.. to read more

Parent's concern

Games Concerns

Parents' concerns about video games include the time their kids spend playing them, the physical effects of an inactive lifestyle, and the violent or sexist content of many games.
Playing video games can be a positive family experience if you understand the issues involved, choose games wisely and control the amount of time your children spend in front of the screen.

The concerns

The video game sector is the fastest growing entertainment industry and second only to music in profitability. Global sales of video game software hit almost $18 billion U.S. in 2007 (PCWorld, January 2008). Video game playing is nearly universal among kids. A 2008 study by the MacArthur Foundation found that 90% of children play computer games at least occasionally. As the audience for games grows, however, children make up a smaller part of that audience, and more and more of the most popular games are rated "M" (intended for adults 17 years or older). Unsurprisingly, these M-rated games are popular with young people as well.
Despite the huge impact of video games on youth culture, there is not a lot of research available in this area, and few of the studies that do exist stand up to critical examination. This lack of scrutiny means that we know very little about the effects that video games may have on children's development and socialization. While video games have many positive aspects, parents should be aware of the following issues related to this highly interactive form of entertainment