Some options on DirectX control panel was disabled on Windows 8

Question

I am using DirectX 9.0 on Windows 8, when I open the DirectX control panel, I found some options was disabled, I am running as a administrator, so this is not an privilege issue. why this happened? I can't turn on the debug version runtime since it is disabled. see picture below. the SDK I am using is June 2010

Answer 1

Answer from Microsoft XNA forum

The Direct3D 9 Developer Runtime (aka D3D9D.DLL) in the legacy DirectX SDK (June 2010) is not compatible with Windows 8. In fact, the entire Developer Runtime in the legacy DirectX SDK (June 2010) is not compatible with Windows 8 or with Windows 7 SP1 with KB 2370838 installed. The only way to obtain the Direct3D 9 Developer Runtime for Windows 8 is to install a 'checked' version of Windows 8. The Direct3D 10.x/11.x Developer Runtime for Windows 8 is installed by the Windows 8.0 SDK, VS 2012, or the VS 2012 Remote Debugging Tools packages.

See Where is the DirectX SDK?, Where is the DirectX SDK (2013 Edition)?, and DirectX 11.1 and Windows 7

Answer 2

Another option I found here is this:
Using regedit, go to key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Direct3D. The "Trusted Installer" has ownership of this key. Change ownership to Administrators, then grant "Full Access" to the Administrators (write access to values should be enough, but I didn't test this). Now run the DX Control Panel (as admin, of course). Now the changes should be saved.