diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 47205af945..30fed661f2 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -27521,14 +27521,6 @@ fi
 $as_echo "$as_me: WARNING: Xinerama not found; disabling wxDisplay" >&2;}
             wxUSE_DISPLAY="no"
         fi
-    elif test "$wxUSE_MSW" = 1; then
-                ac_fn_c_check_header_compile "$LINENO" "ddraw.h" "ac_cv_header_ddraw_h" "#include <windows.h>
-"
-if test "x$ac_cv_header_ddraw_h" = xyes; then :
-
-fi
-
-
     fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 4ffb373d47..91a36fedd6 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -3472,9 +3472,6 @@ if test "$wxUSE_DISPLAY" = "yes"; then
             AC_MSG_WARN([Xinerama not found; disabling wxDisplay])
             wxUSE_DISPLAY="no"
         fi
-    elif test "$wxUSE_MSW" = 1; then
-        dnl DirectDraw for MSW - optionally used by WxDisplay.
-        AC_CHECK_HEADER([ddraw.h], [], [], [#include <windows.h>])
     fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/interface/wx/sysopt.h b/interface/wx/sysopt.h
index cb789b3c04..47ac09624d 100644
--- a/interface/wx/sysopt.h
+++ b/interface/wx/sysopt.h
@@ -66,9 +66,6 @@
         Setting this to 0 causes more flicker, but allows applications to paint
         graphics on the parent of a static box (the optimized refresh causes any
         such drawing to disappear).
-    @flag{msw.display.directdraw}
-        If set to 1, use DirectDraw-based implementation of wxDisplay.
-        By default the standard Win32 functions are used.
     @flag{msw.font.no-proof-quality}
         If set to 1, use default fonts quality instead of proof quality when
         creating fonts. With proof quality the fonts have slightly better
diff --git a/samples/display/display.cpp b/samples/display/display.cpp
index 4f4be39b64..5ecdcfbb9b 100644
--- a/samples/display/display.cpp
+++ b/samples/display/display.cpp
@@ -170,13 +170,6 @@ bool MyApp::OnInit()
     if ( !wxApp::OnInit() )
         return false;
 
-#ifdef __WXMSW__
-    if ( argc == 2 && !wxStricmp(argv[1],  "/dx") )
-    {
-        wxSystemOptions::SetOption("msw.display.directdraw", 1);
-    }
-#endif // __WXMSW__
-
     // create the main application window
     MyFrame *frame = new MyFrame(_("Display wxWidgets Sample"),
                                  wxDefaultPosition, wxDefaultSize);