How to Fix D3DERR_NOTAVAILABLE Error Code 0x8876086A

Several Windows users have been reporting the same error d3derr_notavailable (0x8876086A) occurring when they try to start a game, an emulator or a different application that requires a sizable degree of graphical processing. The issue is not restricted to a certain Windows version since it’s reported to occur on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

What is causing the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) error?

We investigated this particular issue by looking at various user reports and the repair strategies that are commonly being used to fix this particular problem. As it turns out, there are several different culprits that might trigger this particular issue

Method 1: Updating DirectX to the latest version

The most common cause for this particular issue is an outdated DirectX version. It’s entirely possible that the reason why you’re getting the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) error is that your OS is missing the environment necessary to support the graphics action that is required.

Several affected users have reported that they managed to fix this problem by updating the DirectX version to the latest by using the DirectX web installer to bring your system up to date.

Here’s a quick guide on updating the DirectX version to the latest using the web installer:

1. Visit this link (here), select the installer language and click the Download button.

   

2. From the next screen, uncheck the Microsoft bloatware recommendations and click on the No thanks and continue Direct X End-User Runtime Web installer button.

   

3. Wait until the dxwebsetup.exe installer is downloaded, then double-click on it and follow the on-screen prompts to complete to update your DirectX version to the latest.

   

4. Once the procedure is complete, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved once the next system startup is complete.

If you’re still encountering the same error d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) when trying to open an application or game, move down to the next method below.

Method 2: Running the program/game in compatibility mode

If you’re encountering this issue with an old application or game, you might be able to resolve the issue with no additional action just by running the main executable in compatibility mode. This method is typically reported to be effective in scenarios where the error is encountered on Windows 10.

Here’s a quick guide on running the application that is triggering the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) in compatibility mode:

1. Right-click on the executable that is triggering the error message and choose Properties from the context menu.
2. Once you’re inside the Properties screen, go to the Compatibility tab, check the box associated with Run this Program in compatibility mode for, then select Windows 7 from the list of operating systems.
3. Click Apply to save the changes, then run the program/game again and see if the issue stops occurring.

If the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) error is still occurring even when you run the program in compatibility mode, move down to the next method below.

Method 3: Updating graphics card drivers

If you’re encountering this issue while trying to launch an emulator or game (before the GUI is loaded), it’s likely that you’re encountering the issue due to an outdated or corrupted GPU driver. Some users have reported that they’ve been able to resolve the issue by updating their dedicated GPU drivers to the latest.

Although this procedure is mostly confirmed to work on Windows 10, you should follow the steps below regardless of your Windows version if you’re still encountering the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) error.

Here’s a quick guide on updating your GPU drivers in order to resolve the DirectX error:

1.  Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box.  Then, type “devmgmt.msc” inside the text box and press Enter to open up Device Manager.

   

2. Inside Device Manager, scroll down through the list of devices and open the drop-down menu associated with Display adapters.
   
3. Next, right-click on the dedicated GPU that you’re using and choose Update Driver from the context menu.

   

   Note: If you have both a dedicated & an integrated GPU, the best way to go about resolving this issue is to update both graphics cards.

4. Once you arrive at the next screen, click on Search Automatically for updated driver software. After the initial scan is completed, follow the on-screen prompts to search for the newest driver software available.

   

5. Once the driver download is finished, follow through with the next screen prompts to complete the installation of the driver.

   

6. Once the newest driver has been installed, restart your computer and see if the issue has been resolved once the next startup sequence is complete.

   

7. Once the boot sequence is complete, verify if the error d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) is still occurring by opening the same application or game that was previously triggering the error.

Note: In the event that Device Manager fails to identify a new driver version and you’re sure that a newer version exists, you can install the latest version using the proprietary update application. Every major GPU manufacturer includes software that will automatically identify and install the appropriate graphics driver based on your GPU model. See which software is applicable to your situation:

• GeForce Experience – Nvidia
• Adrenalin – AMD
• Intel Driver – Intel

If the same issue is still occurring after you updated your GPU drivers or you already had the latest version installed, move down to the next method below.

Method 4: Performing a clean boot

As reported by several different affected users, this particular issue can also occur if a software conflict is what’s actually creating the issue. Some users with the same problem have reported that once they booted in a clean boot environment, the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) error no longer appeared when they started the application, game or emulator that was previously triggering the error.

This suggests that the issue might very well be caused by a conflicting application. Here’s a quick guide on achieving a clean boot state and eliminate the possibility of a software conflict:

1. Make sure you perform the following steps with a Windows account that has administrative privileges.
2. Next, press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “msconfig” inside the text box and press Enter to open up System Configuration.

   

   Note: When you’re prompted by the UAC (User Account Control), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.

3. Once you’re inside the System configuration window, start by going to the Services tab. Once you get there, check the box associated with Hide all Microsoft Services.
   Note: This step ensures that you’ll not end up disabling any critical services needed by your OS.
4. When you get this far, you should only see a list of the remaining services. Click the Disable All button to prevent any 3rd party services or another non-essential built-in service from causing a conflict that might trigger the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) error.

   

5.  Once all non-essential services have been disabled, click on Apply to save the modifications.
6. Next, move over to the Startup tab (from the horizontal menu at the top) and click on Open Task Manager.

   

7. Inside the Startup tab of Task Manager, go about selecting each startup service individually and click Disable to prevent it from running at the next startup.

   

8. Once you go about disabling every startup item, you will have achieved a clean boot state. To enforce it, close Task Manager, and restart your computer.
9. At the next startup sequence, open the application, game or emulator that was causing the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) error and see if the issue is still occurring.
10. If the issue is not occurring while in a clean boot state, you can identify the culprit that’s causing the issue by re-enabling each item that you previously disabled & doing regular restarts. It takes a bit of time, but you’ll eventually discover the application or service that is causing the problem.

Method 5: Performing a system restore

If you’ve come this far without identifying the culprit but the issue only started to occur recently (you were previously able to open the game/application without issues), there’s a high chance that you’ll be able to resolve this issue by using the System Restore wizard to revert your machine to a state where everything was functioning normally.

As long as you have a system restore point in place, the procedure below should help you avoid the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) error altogether.

Here’s a quick guide on enforcing a system restore point that is older than the apparition of this particular issue:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “rstrui” and press Enter to open up the System Restore wizard.

   

   Note: If you’re prompted by the User Account Control, click Yes to grant administrative privileges.

2. Inside the System Restore wizard, click Next at the first screen to advanced to the next menu.

   

3. Once you get to the next screen, start by checking the box associated with Show more restore points. After you do this, proceed to select a restore point that is dated before the apparition of this error and hit Next to advance to the next screen.

   

4. Before clicking Finish to kickstart the process, keep in mind that this process will override all changes that you might have made since the system restore point was enforced. With this in mind, this procedure will restore your computer to the exact state in which it was when the restore snapshot was created.

   

5. Upon clicking Finish and confirming at the final prompt, your computer will restart and the older state will be mounted once the next startup is complete. Once all startup items have been loaded, repeat the action that was previously triggering the d3derr_notavailable (8876086A) error and see if the issue has been resolved.

If the same error is still occurring even after following the steps above or you didn’t have an applicable restore point, move down to the next method below.

Method 6: Performing a Repair install

If you’ve come without a result, there’s one procedure that will most likely resolve the issue regardless of the culprit that’s responsible for causing it. A repair install is the equivalent of a clean install, but instead of deleting all personal data it will only reset all Windows components (including booting related processes).

This means that you get to keep your applications, games, personal media and any other type of that you have stored on your computer. The procedure will only modify Windows-related components.

If you want to do a repair install, you can follow this procedure (here).