If your Black Ops 1 won't start and is stuck on "Creating Direct3D device", here's how to fix it:
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I'll give the solution that worked for me first so I don't waste anyone's time: make sure you close any other games!
I was trying to recreate Nacht Der Untoten in Minecraft, so naturally I tried to load up bo1 for a reference. Wouldn't work, thought I was going crazy. I reset the game install folder, even tried to use theater mode in Zombies Chronicles but I wasn't able to. Anyway, I closed Minecraft and bo1 immediately loaded.
I'm not the most savvy when it comes to the inner-workings of videogames, but if I had to guess, it's because my Minecraft was also running on DirectX? Honestly, no clue.
I know this seems suuuuuuper obvious- and in hindsight I feel like a complete idiot- but the real problem was that I didn't see anyone post about it, anywhere (at least from a quick & lazy Google search).
Hope this helps someone.
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I have the same issue when I open my mod tools. It says Getting Direct3D 9 interface...
Using Direct3D9Ex interface
Pixel shader version is 3.0
Vertex shader version is 3.0
Shader model 2.0 code path is available.
Shader model 3.0 code path is available.
Using Shader model 3.0 code path because it is the best available path on this hardware.
Creating Direct3D device...
Couldn't create a Direct3D device: An invalid parameter was passed to the returning function