JTCS won't launch anymore - what is going on?

[berto]

If I launch them by clicking the East Front / West Frong / Rising Sun exe, the result is the same: a black screen with nothing happening.

...

All I can think of is a Windows update that screwed things up but then I would likely not have been the only one.

No, you are not the only one. In the past, I have had Windows Update upgrade my video drivers, and seen breakage like what you report. Bad idea. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Just recently, in order to fix a build problem with the new CS Modern Wars, I installed a Microsoft DirectX SDK (software developer's kit) that maliciously broke my working DirectX setup, and like you got a blank screen when attempting to run the game or anything else. Thank God for Windows Restore!

You do have the Windows Restore option, right?

I have Windows Updates enabled so they update automatically. I have MS Security Essentials for virus security and keep that one up to date as well.

Again, bad idea. Do all the security updates, but be very careful and selective about everything else, especially with driver updates like for your video card.

I have my Windows Update set to Notify only, and perhaps also to automatically Download. But doing the actual Install? No, I always set that to the off position. I decide when and what Windows Update does to my systems, not Microsoft.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.