Directx 9.0C issues , cant play games anymore.......

I had a missing system DLL file in my Directx 9.0 C . I tried reinstalling 9.0C but I kept getting the same error over and over , missing system DLL file. So I decided to check with colleagues and on the Internet and Microsoft and found out that I needed to first REINSTALL the original directx 8.1 drivers from my Windows XP Home Edition cd.........but 1 needed file ( d3d8.dll) was not there which i really needed for my UNINSTALL/REINSTALL TOOL !

I tried to rollback my original directx 8.1 files from my Windows XP Home Edition cd ( the CD which came with my original DELL Dimension 8200 computer ) but I kept getting errors that the file d3d8.dll can not be found nor extracted



I was finally able ( after 8 hours searching, reinstalling, updating and rebooting ) to correctly download and install Directx 9.0B ( no dll errors ) via my game RTW which had the dx 9.0b drivers included in their game, that worked !
But somehow I am not able anymore now to install DX 9.0C as planned. I can download the needed files from Micrsosoft but every time I unpack and try to install those drivers then the system sais SYSTEM UPDATED TO DIRECTX 9.0C but when I restart this is NOT viewable anywhere in the DX Diagnostics and only shows 9.0B installed .

Then I received the following 2 advises on other forums >>

Last time I screwed up my DirectX it was a simple fix. Service Pack 2 includes 9.0c
Goto Add/Remove programs, select Windows Service Pack 2 and uninstall, reboot etc. Then reinstall SP2, and goto Windows Update and install all critical updates.

I would not fear to take his advice. However, and with due respect to Dark, I would try loading DirectX 9.0c redistributable for IT professionals first. The "normal" install of direct x is actually a web installer where some of the files are not downloaded to your machine in the install package but are pulled from the Microsoft site as needed to update your direct x files. Most of the time this works without incident. However, occasionally, this install proceedure will not work. When that happens, the DirectX 9.0c redistributable for IT professionals usualy fixes the problem because it loads, extracts and installs "all" of the files for direct x, apparently over-writing any that are already there. It is about 33 mbs in size, if I remember correctly.

You can try this before uninstalling and re-installing SP2

What can I do ( no, I will NOT do a clean sweep and reinstall Windows XP ) to have the correct DX9.0C on my PC again without having to revert to changing registry keys manually etc etc, a simple and patched MS solution/version please.