Solutions to fix "Failed creating D3D device" error code (0x8876086c).
 

Introduction

This guide will help (and) to fix the "Failed creating D3D devices" error. It has error code 0x8876086c. As they are the most common solutions and work for most people, I will begin with them.
 
 
There are many factors that could cause this error. After suffering this error for several months and trying everything I could find online, I finally got it fixed. It wasn't because of something I read online, but because a colleague suggested that I try something new (. We will get to that in a second).
 
 
I hope that this will help someone who thought that they tried everything to get the game to work.
 
 
If you have tried every possible online fix (like I did) but still can't get it working, you might want to skip to "Setting a custom PC refresh rate". After trying almost every possible solution online, this was the only/first thing that worked for my.
 
 
 

Updating drivers

Let me begin by saying that this is unlikely because this is an older game. However, it might help to prevent problems in other games.
 
 
To update your drivers:
 
 
Nvidia:
 
 

1. Open GeForce Experience
2. Navigate to the Drivers tab
3. Click "Check for Updates"
4. If available, install the update

 
AMD:
 
 

1. Open AMD Radeon Software
2. Check the top-right corner of the Home tab
3. After the download is complete, click the "Download" button to install the update.

Launch Options

Steam lets you add launch options for your games. These are settings that Steam uses to launch games. They can help you run your game on specific hardware or fix technical problems.
 
 
Follow the steps below to determine launch options
 
 

1. Go to your Steam library
2. Select the game you want launch options for
3. Click on the cog icon at the right
4. Click on 'General to open the launch options and close the popup

 
 
Some launch flags to test (, and combinations of these flags)
 
 

• -autoconfig

• -w 1920

• (Optional,)
   
   

  -h 1080

Audio bitrate

Because this is an older game, any newer technology would be 'too bad' for it. It may sound absurd, but this is really what's going on.
 
 
One possible fix is decreasing your audio quality. You can do this in two ways. The end result will be the exact same, so you can choose one or both.
 
 
Windows settings
 
 

1. Search Settings in)'s start menu (Win+ i or open Windows settings (Win + i
2. Go to System > Sounds and click on the output device you prefer (. It is likely something like 'Speakers’ or 'Headphones’).
3. You can change the quality by going to Format > Output settings. The most common settings are 16 bit, 44100Hz and 24 bit, 48000Hz.

 
Control panel
 
 

1. Windows Search: Control Panel
2. Go to Hardware and Sound>> Sound>
3. Click on your preferred output device (, likely something like 'Speakers or ’Headphones’), and then click on it
4. Click on 'Properties.
5. You can select another format from the Advanced tab. Most common are 16 bit, 44100Hz or 24bit 48000Hz.
6. Click on Apply

Edit config file

You can modify certain settings in the game's file config. It is usually found in the following directory.
 
 

C:\Users\{your username}\AppData\Roaming\WB Games\LEGO® Harry Potter™

 
You can modify the pcconfig.txt text file to make changes.
 
 
For example, setting the window size seems to be a solution for most people.
 
Try the following settings (. Just change the default values below).
 
ScreenWidth 1920
 
ScreenHeight 1080
 
WindowWidth 1920
 
WindowHeight 1080
 
 
If that doesn’t work, set the refresh rate to 60
 
ScreenRefreshRate 60
 
 
VSync is a last resort.
 
VerticalSync 1
 
 
 

Setting application refresh rate () Nvidia

The following steps can be used to manually adjust the refresh rate for an application in Nvidia Control Panel:
 
 

1. Open Nvidia Control Panel
2. Go to "Manage 3D settings".
3. Go to "Program Settings".
4. Select LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 from dropdown (
    
    
   
    
    
   For steps 2 through 4, –
5. Look for the setting "Max Frame Rate" and set the slider at 60

Setting a custom refresh rate for your PC

This is the one that saved me. I hope it can help others. This solution was not available online, but it worked for me.
 
 
If your laptop or computer has a high refresh rate display, it can be difficult to play older games. That is also true for LEGO Harry Potter Year 1-4. I have a Lenovo Legion 5) (82JU)) with a display of 165Hz. Some modern hardware/technology is too advanced for these older games. LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 cannot be played at 60Hz.
 
 
To change your display's refresh rate:
 
 

1. Open Windows Settings
2. Go to System -> Display > Advanced Display
3. You will see a dropdown menu to set the refresh speed:
    
    
    
   
4. Click the dropdown to select 60Hz

If there is not another refresh rate available

 
You won't be able to set it to 60Hz if you are as unlucky as me. As you can see I only have the option of setting it to 165Hz.
 
 

 
 
Is this right? Lucky for me, I have a solution.
 
 

1. Open Nvidia control panel (and press the Windows button to search for it.)
2. Go to the Display section: (,)
    
    
    
   NOTE: The Display section may not be present. Go to "Manage Display Mode" and change the Display Mode only to NVIDIA GPU. Most likely, you will see an (warning popup that looks similar to an error) stating that certain applications may crash. Simply click "close". Click "close" and then click "Apply", in the bottom-right corner. Another popup will appear asking if you wish to install the new settings. Click "Yes". You will now have more settings. Follow these steps.
3. Go to the "Change Resolution" section
4. Click on "Customize"
5. In the popup window click on "Create a Custom Resolution …"".
6. You will see another popup window. This window offers many options for your display. Only one thing you need to be concerned about is the refresh rate. Set the refresh rate (Hz) to 60, and click "Test". (
    
    
   
    
    
   )
7. If the test is successful, you'll see a popup telling you that. It will ask you if the resolution is to be saved or installed. Click "Yes".

 
 
If all went well, the resolution has been saved to your computer. To be sure, follow these steps:
 
 

1. Go to Windows Settings
2. Go to System -> Display > Advanced Display
3. You will probably see a dropdown at your top to select your display.
    
    
    
   
    
    
   Display 1 (Internal display) is most likely selected by default. It is listed as inactive.
    
    
    
   
4. Select Display 2 in the dropdown
5. The refresh rate dropdown will now allow you to set it to 60Hz (.
    
    
    
   

 
 
Start LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 via Steam. It should automatically change the refresh rate, so you don’t have to adjust it manually every time you start or stop playing. It should work without issues. If it gives you an error, please try to manually adjust the refresh rate of LEGO Harry Potter Years 1 through 4 in the file pcconfig.txt.
 
 
 

Sources

Failed to create D3D devices
 
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/102E-D170-B891-7145 – [steampowered.com]
 
 
 
Setting up Game Launch Options
 
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/7D01-D2DD-D75E-2955 – [steampowered.com]
 
 
 
Configure the file settings
 
https://steamcommunity.com/app/21130/discussions/0/627456486827509615/ – [steamcommunity.com]
 
 
 
You can add a custom resolution/refreshrate to your computer/laptop
 
My colleague :
 
 
Updating AMD drivers
 
 

 
 
This is all for LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 1-4 “Failed to create D3D device” Solution hope you enjoy the post. If you believe we forget or we should update the post please let us know via comment, we will try our best to fix how fast is possible! Have a great day!