Fix: “Fatal Error Coordinator Returned -1” in Windows 11/10

There have been reports by users that a dialog box with the message Fatal Error ‘Coordinator Returned -1’ appears on their screen right after their operating system is booted. Apparently, this error occurs even after users run an antivirus scan to get rid of any corruption errors that might be causing it.

We had a look into this issue and discovered that it can be caused by a number of reasons including the following:

• Generic corruption errors – If your system is infected by a bug or a generic corruption error, it might prevent your system from performing its functions properly, resulting in errors like the one at hand.
• Zoom’s startup application – In most cases, the startup application of Zoom called launch.bat in the Task Manager acts up, resulting in the Coordinator returned -1 error code.
• Zoom application – The Zoom application itself might be corrupt, forcing the system to display the error code. 

Now that we know about the potential causes, let’s have a look at the troubleshooting methods that worked for other affected users. 

Run Windows Store Troubleshooter

As we mentioned earlier, the error at hand is typically caused due to the Zoom installation on your Windows operating system. Since Zoom is a Microsoft Store application, the first thing that you should do after running into an error like this is run the Windows Store Troubleshooter.

This troubleshooter is built within Windows and is specifically designed to scan the system for any app-related issues. If any problems are identified, the troubleshooter will apply the fixes without any significant user input. 

Here is how you can run the Windows Store troubleshooter on Windows 11:

1. Press Windows + I keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open Windows Settings. 
2. Select System from the left pane and click on Troubleshoot on the right side of the window.
   

   

3. Then, select Other troubleshooters and click on Windows Store Apps. 

   

4. Hit the Run the troubleshooter button and wait for the troubleshooter to complete the scan.
   

   

5. If the troubleshooter finds any issues, it will recommend fixes. In that case, click on Apply this fix.
   

   

6. Once the fix is applied, perform the step that was causing the issue previously and check if the Coordinator Returned error code appears again.

Disable launch.bat in Task Manager

You might also be experiencing this error due to Zoom’s startup application in your Task Manager which is called launch.bat. If this scenario is applicable, then disabling the launch.bat file in Task Manager might do the trick for you. 

Here is how you can do that:

1. Type Task Manager in the search area of the taskbar and click Open.
   
2. Inside the Task Manager window, head over to the Startup tab. 
3. Locate and right-click on the launch.bat file.
   
4. Select Disable from the context menu and once done, close the Task Manager window. Hopefully, this will resolve the error under consideration for you.
   

Reinstall Zoom

Due to the issue being related to Zoom, you might also wish to uninstall the current version of Zoom and install a newer version. Doing so worked for several users, which is why we recommend you give it a shot.

Follow these steps to reinstall Zoom:

1. Press Windows + I keys together on your keyboard to open Windows Settings.
   
2. Inside the Settings window, click on Apps from the left pane and choose Apps & features on the right-hand side of the window.
   

   

3. Now locate Zoom and click on the three dots associated with it.
   
4. Hit the Uninstall button and follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.
   

   

5. Once the uninstallation process is complete, install Zoom again and check if the Coordinator Returned issue still appears. 

Uninstall Any Recently Installed Application

In the event that you began experiencing the error following the installation of a certain application and you are certain that Zoom is not the cause, try uninstalling the recently installed application.

There are times when applications start acting up, causing issues within the processes of operating systems. Uninstalling the application is the safest way to fix the issue in this case.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Type Control Panel in the search area of the taskbar and click Open.
   
2. Click on Uninstall a program under Programs.
   

   

3. Now locate the recently installed program in the list on your screen and right-click on it.
   
4. Choose Uninstall from the context menu and follow the on-screen procedure to complete the process. 
   

   

5. Alternatively, you can also press Windows + I keys together on your keyboard to open Windows Settings.
   
6. Inside the Settings window, select Apps from the left pane and then click on Apps & features as shown below.
   

   

7. Now locate the targeted application on the right-hand side of the window and click on it.
8. Hit the Uninstall button and follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

Use System Restore

Your Windows operating system comes with a System Restore utility that takes snapshots of the working state of the OS every now and then. These snapshots are called restore points and within them, they store Windows settings and drivers. You can use them to revert your system to a previously working state in cases of errors. 

Although these restore points are created automatically, you can also create them manually as per your requirements. When all else fails and you are still facing the ‘Coordinator Returned’ error, you can always try performing a System Restore to get back to the state where the error at hand was not present. This way you will be able to dodge the error and continue your usual operations without any issues.