Why is it that when i do this LPDIRECTDRAW7 lpdd7 = NULL; I get a missing ; error but when I take out the 7''s like this LPDIRECTDRAW lpdd = NULL; I get no errors. same goes for DDSCAPS2 ddscaps; when I remove the 2 behind DDSCAPS it compiles fine.

Look under "Getting Started with DirectX" (I think the subheading you want is "Compiling DirectX Programs") in the DirectX help. You need to set up your include and library paths, as well as adding the DirectX libs to your project.

Hi- It looks to me like you are set up to run an older version of DirectX- the 7 is for directx 7.0 and won''t compile for previous versions- I know this becuase Im using Directx 3.0 and have come across this before.

Thanks, I did have my paths wrong or should i say, I didn''t even include a path to my installed SDK