I'm working on a .NET application that requires the use of accelerated graphics, currently DirectX 9.0c. The software is quite graphics intensive and must, in addition, be launchable from a CD or by ClickOnce without the user requiring administrator's permissions.

I currently use SlimDX, which works great featurewise, but the users are getting rather annoyed by having to install the DirectX redistributable. Especially since this does require elevated permissions. It is rather hard to explain to them why the version of DirectX already bundled with their OS is not sufficient. After all - DirectX 9.0c has been around since 2004, and I'm not using any new fancy features.

The ability to deliver an application that "just works" in Vista or Windows 7, without any particular additional prerequisites would be a huge advantage.

Therefore: Is there any way I can build an application using DirectX 9.0c based on SlimDX, that relies only on the libraries provided in the standard Windows Vista/Win7 installation? That is - without requiring the additional DirectX redistributable to be installed?

If not - is there any other managed (and preferably not abandoned) DirectX wrapper that can serve this purpose?

Thanks in advance!