I have recently installed my copy of Dragon Age on my computer and I have been experiencing severe lag when I try playing the game. The game seemed to load just fine and will play the intro video just fine, but when I reach the character creator it starts to lag severely.

I have tried updating all my drivers. I have tried to run the game as an administrator. I have also tried saving the game in an alternate drive on my computer, but none of these have seemed to work. My computer should be able to run the game just fine since I am able to play the Witcher 2 on it with high graphic settings and it works just fine.

I did not install the game via GOG Galaxy and I do not have any mods installed on it either.

Any help or advice on how to fix this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Have you installed DirectX 9.0C?

I have tried and failed. I currently have Windows 8 and my computer won't allow me to install it.

Go here , download and save the june2010 runtimes
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

Disable your antivirus program.

Create a temporary new folder on your desktop.
run directx_Jun2010_redist.exe and tell it to unpack to the new folder

Then scroll down until you see DXSETUP.exe and run it (see attached pic)
When it says installation complete, you can delete the temporary new folder & re-enable your antivirus software.

I installed the program, yet the lag persists. It is noticeably better though, which is confusing me.

Try just adding -dx9 to the end of of the shortcut target line ( see pic )