I have installed Google Earth and when I open the program there is the message “DirectX mode not supported” and color mode must be “True Color (32 bit), graphics driver updated and latest version of DirectX installed.

I have:
- Windows XP sp3
- Intel(R( 82815 Graphics Controller, date 23/07/02, version 6.13.01.3196
- DirectX, date 13/03/08, version 9.22.1284
- monitor LG L1718S, mode 1280x1024

A “Display properties box” tells me:
- Screen resolution 1280x1024
- Color quality: Medium (16 bit), High (24 bit)
- Monitor LG L1718S

But in this “Display properties box” I cannot select an option “True Color (32 bit)” under color quality.
How do I get this “True Color” option?

Thanks a lot for the solution

Hello nonito, welcome to PCHF.

I don't believe that the Intel 82815 chipset (quite old now), supports a colour depth of 32bit, especially at that resolution. Reduce your resolution to 1024x768 and see if the option becomes available, but I doubt it.

However, I believe actually reducing your color depth to 16 bit Medium will resolve your Google Earth issue.

Hello Madmonkey,

In the systen tray there is an "Intel(R) graphics Technology" icon and when I click properties then I have a box with a device tab for the monitor:
Colors: True Color
Screen Area: 1280 by 1024
Refresh rate: 60 HZ
So I think the Intel 82815 cipset supports a color depth of 32 bit or ????

Thanks nonito

Actually, all of those color depths from 8bit to 32bit are all True Color modes. 256 colors for example, is not true color. True Color is 256 shades of Red, Green and Blue (256x256x256). Further information on the subject can be found here: Color depth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But reducing to 16bit (medium) should resolve your problems.

EDIT: Marked as Answered.