diff --git a/win32/CDirect3D.cpp b/win32/CDirect3D.cpp
index 204b30c3..a68d391c 100644
--- a/win32/CDirect3D.cpp
+++ b/win32/CDirect3D.cpp
@@ -178,9 +178,6 @@
 #pragma comment( lib, "d3dx9" )
 #pragma comment( lib, "DxErr" )
 
-#pragma comment( lib, "cg.lib" )
-#pragma comment( lib, "cgd3d9.lib" )
-
 #include "cdirect3d.h"
 #include "win32_display.h"
 #include "../snes9x.h"
@@ -225,6 +222,7 @@ CDirect3D::CDirect3D()
 	shaderTimeElapsed = 0;
 	cgContext = NULL;
 	cgVertexProgram = cgFragmentProgram = NULL;
+	cgAvailable = false;
 }
 
 /* CDirect3D::~CDirect3D()
@@ -278,10 +276,14 @@ bool CDirect3D::Initialize(HWND hWnd)
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	cgContext = cgCreateContext();
-	hr = cgD3D9SetDevice(pDevice);
-	if(FAILED(hr)) {
-		DXTRACE_ERR_MSGBOX(TEXT("Error setting cg device"), hr);
+	cgAvailable = loadCgFunctions();
+
+	if(cgAvailable) {
+		cgContext = cgCreateContext();
+		hr = cgD3D9SetDevice(pDevice);
+		if(FAILED(hr)) {
+			DXTRACE_ERR_MSGBOX(TEXT("Error setting cg device"), hr);
+		}
 	}
 
 	pDevice->SetRenderState(D3DRS_LIGHTING, FALSE);
@@ -323,7 +325,8 @@ void CDirect3D::DeInitialize()
 		cgContext = NULL;
 	}
 
-	cgD3D9SetDevice(NULL);
+	if(cgAvailable)
+		cgD3D9SetDevice(NULL);
 
 	init_done = false;
 	afterRenderWidth = 0;
@@ -331,6 +334,8 @@ void CDirect3D::DeInitialize()
 	quadTextureSize = 0;
 	fullscreen = false;
 	filterScale = 0;
+	unloadCgLibrary();
+	cgAvailable = false;
 }
 
 bool CDirect3D::SetShader(const TCHAR *file)
@@ -382,6 +387,12 @@ bool CDirect3D::SetShaderCG(const TCHAR *file)
 	if (file == NULL || *file==TEXT('\0'))
 		return true;
 
+	if(!cgAvailable) {
+		MessageBox(NULL, TEXT("The CG runtime is unavailable, CG shaders will not run.\nConsult the snes9x readme for information on how to obtain the runtime."), TEXT("CG Error"),
+			MB_OK|MB_ICONEXCLAMATION);
+        return false;
+    }
+
 	CGprofile vertexProfile = cgD3D9GetLatestVertexProfile();
 	CGprofile pixelProfile = cgD3D9GetLatestPixelProfile();
 
diff --git a/win32/CDirect3D.h b/win32/CDirect3D.h
index 813b4078..49795dfd 100644
--- a/win32/CDirect3D.h
+++ b/win32/CDirect3D.h
@@ -183,8 +183,7 @@
 #include <d3dx9.h>
 #include <windows.h>
 
-#include <Cg/cg.h>
-#include <Cg/cgD3D9.h>
+#include "cgFunctions.h"
 
 #include "render.h"
 #include "wsnes9x.h"
@@ -225,6 +224,7 @@ private:
 	CGcontext cgContext;
 	CGprogram cgVertexProgram, cgFragmentProgram;
 	current_d3d_shader_type shader_type;
+	bool cgAvailable;
 
 	float shaderTimer;
 	int shaderTimeStart;
diff --git a/win32/COpenGL.cpp b/win32/COpenGL.cpp
index 0b14c952..0828831c 100644
--- a/win32/COpenGL.cpp
+++ b/win32/COpenGL.cpp
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@
 #include "../filter/hq2x.h"
 #include "../filter/2xsai.h"
 
-#pragma comment( lib, "cg.lib" )
-#pragma comment( lib, "cggl.lib" )
-
 
 COpenGL::COpenGL(void)
 {
@@ -33,6 +30,7 @@ COpenGL::COpenGL(void)
     fragmentShader = 0;
 	cgContext = NULL;
 	cgVertexProgram = cgFragmentProgram = NULL;
+	cgAvailable = false;
 }
 
 COpenGL::~COpenGL(void)
@@ -104,7 +102,10 @@ bool COpenGL::Initialize(HWND hWnd)
 	glVertexPointer(2, GL_FLOAT, 0, vertices);
 	glTexCoordPointer(2, GL_FLOAT, 0, texcoords);
 
-	cgContext = cgCreateContext();
+	cgAvailable = loadCgFunctions();
+	if(cgAvailable) {
+		cgContext = cgCreateContext();
+	}
 
 	GetClientRect(hWnd,&windowRect);
 	ChangeRenderSize(windowRect.right,windowRect.bottom);
@@ -139,6 +140,8 @@ void COpenGL::DeInitialize()
 	afterRenderHeight = 0;
 	shaderFunctionsLoaded = false;
 	shader_type = OGL_SHADER_NONE;
+	unloadCgLibrary();
+	cgAvailable = false;
 }
 
 void COpenGL::CreateDrawSurface()
@@ -284,10 +287,6 @@ void COpenGL::Render(SSurface Src)
 
 			cgGLSetStateMatrixParameter(cgpModelViewProj, CG_GL_MODELVIEW_PROJECTION_MATRIX, CG_GL_MATRIX_IDENTITY);
 
-			CGparameter cgpVideoSize = cgGetNamedParameter(cgFragmentProgram, "IN.video_size");
-			CGparameter cgpTextureSize = cgGetNamedParameter(cgFragmentProgram, "IN.texture_size");
-			CGparameter cgpOutputSize = cgGetNamedParameter(cgFragmentProgram, "IN.output_size");
-
 #define setProgram2fv(program,varname,floats)\
 {\
 	CGparameter cgp = cgGetNamedParameter(program, varname);\
@@ -521,6 +520,7 @@ bool COpenGL::SetShadersCG(const TCHAR *file)
 {
 	TCHAR errorMsg[MAX_PATH + 50];
 	HRESULT hr;
+	CGprofile vertexProfile, fragmentProfile;
 
 	if(cgFragmentProgram) {
 		cgDestroyProgram(cgFragmentProgram);
@@ -531,15 +531,23 @@ bool COpenGL::SetShadersCG(const TCHAR *file)
 		cgVertexProgram = NULL;
 	}
 
-	CGprofile vertexProfile = cgGLGetLatestProfile(CG_GL_VERTEX);
-	CGprofile fragmentProfile = cgGLGetLatestProfile(CG_GL_FRAGMENT);
+	if(cgAvailable) {
+		vertexProfile = cgGLGetLatestProfile(CG_GL_VERTEX);
+		fragmentProfile = cgGLGetLatestProfile(CG_GL_FRAGMENT);
 
-	cgGLDisableProfile(vertexProfile);
-	cgGLDisableProfile(fragmentProfile);
+		cgGLDisableProfile(vertexProfile);
+		cgGLDisableProfile(fragmentProfile);
+	}
 
 	if (file == NULL || *file==TEXT('\0'))
 		return true;
 
+	if(!cgAvailable) {
+		MessageBox(NULL, TEXT("The CG runtime is unavailable, CG shaders will not run.\nConsult the snes9x readme for information on how to obtain the runtime."), TEXT("CG Error"),
+			MB_OK|MB_ICONEXCLAMATION);
+        return false;
+    }
+
 	cgGLSetOptimalOptions(vertexProfile);
 	cgGLSetOptimalOptions(fragmentProfile);
 
diff --git a/win32/COpenGL.h b/win32/COpenGL.h
index 8adb1518..adb8949a 100644
--- a/win32/COpenGL.h
+++ b/win32/COpenGL.h
@@ -181,8 +181,7 @@
 
 #include <windows.h>
 #include <gl\gl.h>
-#include <Cg/cg.h>
-#include <Cg/cgGL.h>
+#include "cgFunctions.h"
 
 #include "glext.h"
 #include "wglext.h"
@@ -215,6 +214,7 @@ private:
 	CGcontext cgContext;
 	CGprogram cgVertexProgram, cgFragmentProgram;
 	current_ogl_shader_type shader_type;
+	bool cgAvailable;
 
 	GLuint shaderProgram;
     GLuint vertexShader;
diff --git a/win32/cgFunctions.cpp b/win32/cgFunctions.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a1cfa39c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/win32/cgFunctions.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+#include "cgFunctions.h"
+
+HMODULE hCgDll = NULL;
+HMODULE hCgD3D9Dll = NULL;
+HMODULE hCgGLDll = NULL;
+
+//cg.dll
+CGCC cgCreateContext = NULL;
+CGDC cgDestroyContext = NULL;
+CGGNP cgGetNamedParameter = NULL;
+CGGE cgGetError = NULL;
+CGGES cgGetErrorString = NULL;
+CGGLL cgGetLastListing = NULL;
+CGCP cgCreateProgram = NULL;
+CGDP cgDestroyProgram = NULL;
+//cgD3D9.dll
+CGD3DSD cgD3D9SetDevice = NULL;
+CGD3DBP cgD3D9BindProgram = NULL;
+CGD3DGLVP cgD3D9GetLatestVertexProfile = NULL;
+CGD3DGLPP cgD3D9GetLatestPixelProfile = NULL;
+CGD3DGOO cgD3D9GetOptimalOptions = NULL;
+CGD3DLP cgD3D9LoadProgram = NULL;
+CGD3DSUM cgD3D9SetUniformMatrix = NULL;
+CGD3DSU cgD3D9SetUniform = NULL;
+//cggl.dll
+CGGLSSMP cgGLSetStateMatrixParameter = NULL;
+CGGLSP2FV cgGLSetParameter2fv = NULL;
+CGGLGLP cgGLGetLatestProfile = NULL;
+CGGLEP cgGLEnableProfile = NULL;
+CGGLDP cgGLDisableProfile = NULL;
+CGGLSOO cgGLSetOptimalOptions = NULL;
+CGGLLP cgGLLoadProgram = NULL;
+CGGLBP cgGLBindProgram = NULL;
+
+bool loadCgFunctions()
+{
+	if(hCgDll && hCgD3D9Dll && hCgGLDll)
+		return true;
+
+	hCgDll = LoadLibrary(TEXT("cg.dll"));
+	if(hCgDll) {
+		hCgD3D9Dll = LoadLibrary(TEXT("cgD3D9.dll"));
+		hCgGLDll = LoadLibrary(TEXT("cgGL.dll"));
+	}
+
+	if(!hCgDll || !hCgD3D9Dll || !hCgGLDll) {
+		unloadCgLibrary();
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	//cg.dll
+	cgCreateContext = (CGCC)GetProcAddress(hCgDll,"cgCreateContext");
+	cgDestroyContext = (CGDC)GetProcAddress(hCgDll,"cgDestroyContext");
+	cgGetNamedParameter = (CGGNP)GetProcAddress(hCgDll,"cgGetNamedParameter");
+	cgGetError = (CGGE)GetProcAddress(hCgDll,"cgGetError");
+	cgGetErrorString = (CGGES)GetProcAddress(hCgDll,"cgGetErrorString");
+	cgGetLastListing = (CGGLL)GetProcAddress(hCgDll,"cgGetLastListing");
+	cgCreateProgram = (CGCP)GetProcAddress(hCgDll,"cgCreateProgram");
+	cgDestroyProgram = (CGDP)GetProcAddress(hCgDll,"cgDestroyProgram");
+	//cgD3D9.dll
+	cgD3D9SetDevice = (CGD3DSD)GetProcAddress(hCgD3D9Dll,"cgD3D9SetDevice");
+	cgD3D9BindProgram = (CGD3DBP)GetProcAddress(hCgD3D9Dll,"cgD3D9BindProgram");
+	cgD3D9GetLatestVertexProfile = (CGD3DGLVP)GetProcAddress(hCgD3D9Dll,"cgD3D9GetLatestVertexProfile");
+	cgD3D9GetLatestPixelProfile = (CGD3DGLPP)GetProcAddress(hCgD3D9Dll,"cgD3D9GetLatestPixelProfile");
+	cgD3D9GetOptimalOptions = (CGD3DGOO)GetProcAddress(hCgD3D9Dll,"cgD3D9GetOptimalOptions");
+	cgD3D9LoadProgram = (CGD3DLP)GetProcAddress(hCgD3D9Dll,"cgD3D9LoadProgram");
+	cgD3D9SetUniformMatrix = (CGD3DSUM)GetProcAddress(hCgD3D9Dll,"cgD3D9SetUniformMatrix");
+	cgD3D9SetUniform = (CGD3DSU)GetProcAddress(hCgD3D9Dll,"cgD3D9SetUniform");
+	//cggl.dll
+	cgGLSetStateMatrixParameter = (CGGLSSMP)GetProcAddress(hCgGLDll,"cgGLSetStateMatrixParameter");
+	cgGLSetParameter2fv = (CGGLSP2FV)GetProcAddress(hCgGLDll,"cgGLSetParameter2fv");
+	cgGLGetLatestProfile = (CGGLGLP)GetProcAddress(hCgGLDll,"cgGLGetLatestProfile");
+	cgGLEnableProfile = (CGGLEP)GetProcAddress(hCgGLDll,"cgGLEnableProfile");
+	cgGLDisableProfile = (CGGLDP)GetProcAddress(hCgGLDll,"cgGLDisableProfile");
+	cgGLSetOptimalOptions = (CGGLSOO)GetProcAddress(hCgGLDll,"cgGLSetOptimalOptions");
+	cgGLLoadProgram = (CGGLLP)GetProcAddress(hCgGLDll,"cgGLLoadProgram");
+	cgGLBindProgram = (CGGLBP)GetProcAddress(hCgGLDll,"cgGLBindProgram");
+
+	if(
+		//cg.dll
+		!cgCreateContext ||
+		!cgDestroyContext ||
+		!cgGetNamedParameter ||
+		!cgGetError ||
+		!cgGetErrorString ||
+		!cgGetLastListing ||
+		!cgCreateProgram ||
+		!cgDestroyProgram ||
+		//cgD3D9.dll
+		!cgD3D9SetDevice ||
+		!cgD3D9BindProgram ||
+		!cgD3D9GetLatestVertexProfile ||
+		!cgD3D9GetLatestPixelProfile ||
+		!cgD3D9GetOptimalOptions ||
+		!cgD3D9LoadProgram ||
+		!cgD3D9SetUniformMatrix ||
+		!cgD3D9SetUniform ||
+		//cggl.dll
+		!cgGLSetStateMatrixParameter ||
+		!cgGLSetParameter2fv ||
+		!cgGLGetLatestProfile ||
+		!cgGLEnableProfile ||
+		!cgGLDisableProfile ||
+		!cgGLSetOptimalOptions ||
+		!cgGLLoadProgram ||
+		!cgGLBindProgram) {
+			unloadCgLibrary();
+			return false;
+	}
+		
+	return true;
+}
+
+void unloadCgLibrary()
+{
+	if(hCgDll)
+		FreeLibrary(hCgDll);
+	if(hCgD3D9Dll)
+		FreeLibrary(hCgD3D9Dll);
+	if(hCgGLDll)
+		FreeLibrary(hCgGLDll);
+
+	hCgDll = hCgD3D9Dll = hCgGLDll = NULL;
+
+	//cg.dll
+	cgCreateContext = NULL;
+	cgDestroyContext = NULL;
+	cgGetNamedParameter = NULL;
+	cgGetError = NULL;
+	cgGetErrorString = NULL;
+	cgGetLastListing = NULL;
+	cgCreateProgram = NULL;
+	cgDestroyProgram = NULL;
+	//cgD3D9.dll
+	cgD3D9SetDevice = NULL;
+	cgD3D9BindProgram = NULL;
+	cgD3D9GetLatestVertexProfile = NULL;
+	cgD3D9GetLatestPixelProfile = NULL;
+	cgD3D9GetOptimalOptions = NULL;
+	cgD3D9LoadProgram = NULL;
+	cgD3D9SetUniformMatrix = NULL;
+	cgD3D9SetUniform = NULL;
+	//cggl.dll
+	cgGLSetStateMatrixParameter = NULL;
+	cgGLSetParameter2fv = NULL;
+	cgGLGetLatestProfile = NULL;
+	cgGLEnableProfile = NULL;
+	cgGLDisableProfile = NULL;
+	cgGLSetOptimalOptions = NULL;
+	cgGLLoadProgram = NULL;
+	cgGLBindProgram = NULL;
+}
diff --git a/win32/cgFunctions.h b/win32/cgFunctions.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..27b47cdd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/win32/cgFunctions.h
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+#ifndef CGFUNCTIONS_H
+#define CGFUNCTIONS_H
+
+#define CG_EXPLICIT
+#define CGD3D9_EXPLICIT
+#define CGGL_EXPLICIT
+
+#include <cg/cg.h>
+#include <cg/cgd3d9.h>
+#include <cg/cggl.h>
+
+//cg.dll
+typedef CG_API CGcontext (CGENTRY *CGCC)(void);
+extern CGCC cgCreateContext;
+typedef CG_API void (CGENTRY *CGDC)(CGcontext context);
+extern CGDC cgDestroyContext;
+typedef CG_API CGparameter (CGENTRY *CGGNP)(CGprogram program, const char *name);
+extern CGGNP cgGetNamedParameter;
+typedef CG_API CGerror (CGENTRY *CGGE)(void);
+extern CGGE cgGetError;
+typedef CG_API const char * (CGENTRY *CGGES)(CGerror error);
+extern CGGES cgGetErrorString;
+typedef CG_API const char * (CGENTRY *CGGLL)(CGcontext context);
+extern CGGLL cgGetLastListing;
+typedef CG_API CGprogram (CGENTRY *CGCP)(CGcontext context, CGenum program_type, const char *program, CGprofile profile, const char *entry, const char **args);
+extern CGCP cgCreateProgram;
+typedef CG_API void (CGENTRY *CGDP)(CGprogram program);
+extern CGDP cgDestroyProgram;
+
+//cgD3D9.dll
+typedef CGD3D9DLL_API HRESULT (CGD3D9ENTRY *CGD3DSD)(IDirect3DDevice9 *pDevice);
+extern CGD3DSD cgD3D9SetDevice;
+typedef CGD3D9DLL_API HRESULT (CGD3D9ENTRY *CGD3DBP)(CGprogram prog);
+extern CGD3DBP cgD3D9BindProgram;
+typedef CGD3D9DLL_API CGprofile (CGD3D9ENTRY *CGD3DGLVP)(void);
+extern CGD3DGLVP cgD3D9GetLatestVertexProfile;
+typedef CGD3D9DLL_API CGprofile (CGD3D9ENTRY *CGD3DGLPP)(void);
+extern CGD3DGLPP cgD3D9GetLatestPixelProfile;
+typedef CGD3D9DLL_API const char ** (CGD3D9ENTRY *CGD3DGOO)(CGprofile profile);
+extern CGD3DGOO cgD3D9GetOptimalOptions;
+typedef CGD3D9DLL_API HRESULT (CGD3D9ENTRY *CGD3DLP)(CGprogram prog, CGbool paramShadowing, DWORD assemFlags);
+extern CGD3DLP cgD3D9LoadProgram;
+typedef CGD3D9DLL_API HRESULT (CGD3D9ENTRY *CGD3DSUM)(CGparameter param, const D3DMATRIX *matrix);
+extern CGD3DSUM cgD3D9SetUniformMatrix;
+typedef CGD3D9DLL_API HRESULT (CGD3D9ENTRY *CGD3DSU)(CGparameter param, const void *floats);
+extern CGD3DSU cgD3D9SetUniform;
+
+//cggl.dll
+typedef CGGL_API void (CGGLENTRY *CGGLSSMP)(CGparameter param, CGGLenum matrix, CGGLenum transform);
+extern CGGLSSMP cgGLSetStateMatrixParameter;
+typedef CGGL_API void (CGGLENTRY *CGGLSP2FV)(CGparameter param, const float *v);
+extern CGGLSP2FV cgGLSetParameter2fv;
+typedef CGGL_API CGprofile (CGGLENTRY *CGGLGLP)(CGGLenum profile_type);
+extern CGGLGLP cgGLGetLatestProfile;
+typedef CGGL_API void (CGGLENTRY *CGGLEP)(CGprofile profile);
+extern CGGLEP cgGLEnableProfile;
+typedef CGGL_API void (CGGLENTRY *CGGLDP)(CGprofile profile);
+extern CGGLDP cgGLDisableProfile;
+typedef CGGL_API void (CGGLENTRY *CGGLSOO)(CGprofile profile);
+extern CGGLSOO cgGLSetOptimalOptions;
+typedef CGGL_API void (CGGLENTRY *CGGLLP)(CGprogram program);
+extern CGGLLP cgGLLoadProgram;
+typedef CGGL_API void (CGGLENTRY *CGGLBP)(CGprogram program);
+extern CGGLBP cgGLBindProgram;
+
+
+
+//cgfunctions.cpp
+bool loadCgFunctions();
+void unloadCgLibrary();
+
+#endif
diff --git a/win32/snes9xw.vcproj b/win32/snes9xw.vcproj
index 0fd8c850..0ba5f785 100644
--- a/win32/snes9xw.vcproj
+++ b/win32/snes9xw.vcproj
@@ -3201,6 +3201,14 @@
 					RelativePath=".\CDirectDraw.h"
 					>
 				</File>
+				<File
+					RelativePath=".\cgFunctions.cpp"
+					>
+				</File>
+				<File
+					RelativePath=".\cgFunctions.h"
+					>
+				</File>
 				<File
 					RelativePath=".\COpenGL.cpp"
 					>