Unable to init shader system

Unable to init shader system
Question

I get an error: Engine Error: unable to init shader system
Answer

If you are getting this error, there are several possible causes.

1.

You need to update your Video Drivers, be sure to follow the update instructions on the Manufacturer's web site.

Note: Many common anti-spyware or anti-virus software includes the ability to disallow updates to the registry. You must turn off any of this software before updating or else they will not take effect.

ATI: http://www.ati.com/
Nvidia: http://www.nvidia.com/
2.

Your Video Card is unable to support shader in it's current implementation of DirectX.

To fix this, you may have to run at a lower DirectX implementation:
* DirectX Version 9.0 = -dxlevel 90
* DirectX Version 8.1 = -dxlevel 81
* DirectX Version 8.0 = -dxlevel 80
* DirectX Version 7.0 = -dxlevel 70

To set this, just add the "-dxlevel 81" in your game launch properties.
3.

You have a Dual-Head Graphics card, you need to disable the secondary head.

Typically, right Click on your desktop, Choose Properties, Select the Settings tab. There should be an area that shows 2 monitors, you might have to look under advanced properties. Right click on the one labelled 2 and click "Disable" or "Attached"... Then click apply and accept the settings.
4.

You don't have the DirectX video Acceleration (in DXDIAG) set to HIGH.

Start > Run > DXDIAG < enter> then goto Display, check that Direct 3D and Direct Draw Are all enabled if not enable them. If they are already enabled exit out of it then go to display properties on control panel.

Settings > Advance > Troubleshoot check Hardware Acceleration is set to full.
5.

Make sure you have the latest DirectX 9 installed, usually available through Windows Update. (check there otherwise: http://www.microsoft.com/directx/)