Fix: Error 0xc00007b “Application was unable to start correctly”

The 0xc00007b error primarily occurs due to corrupted or missing Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files, which the application requires to work properly. Corrupted DLL files can be caused by malware or third-party antivirus software, as DLL files are loaded into RAM to produce graphics, audio, and other functionalities. Consequently, when the DLL files consume a large amount of RAM usage, the antivirus software may corrupt them to reduce memory usage.

Moreover, this error may also occur if you have downloaded the application or game from a third-party source, or if you have 32-bit DLL files with 64-bit Windows.

DLL files can be used by one or multiple applications at a time. They were developed to reduce the amount of code an application needs to produce necessary features such as audio and graphics rendering. Even though DLL files come with Windows components, if they become corrupted, you can automatically download them by installing VC runtime.

2. Install the DirectX module.

Since this error primarily occurs due to corrupted DLL files, you can try reinstalling all the versions of Microsoft Visual C++, as they contain dozens of DLL files used by applications for various tasks. There are two ways to restore corrupted DLL files: either install all the components containing DLL files or download the specific DLL file and replace it with the corrupted one.

To reinstall the Microsoft Visual Redistributable, please follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run Window.
2. Enter appwiz.cpl and click OK to open the Programs and Features Window.

   

3. Right-click Microsoft Visual C++ and select Uninstall.

   

4. Click “Uninstall” when you see the VC runtime uninstaller window.
5. Repeat this process for all versions of Microsoft Visual C++.
6. Once you have removed all the components, press the Windows key and type “Command Prompt.
7. Right-click the command prompt and select Run as administrator.

   

8. Once the command prompt is opened, enter the following command to clean up the component store:

   Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

   

9. Once complete, close the command prompt and download the ZIP file from the link, which contains all the versions of Microsoft Visual C++.
10. Once completed, extract the ZIP folder using the WinRar utility.
11. Navigate to the extracted folder and run the ‘Install_all‘ file. This will install all the versions of Microsoft Visual C++ released so far.

    

12. Once completed, restart your computer and attempt to launch the application or game to see if the error has been resolved.

2. Install the DirectX module.

DirectX is a group of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that are used to develop, render, and manage graphics. Games are developed using DirectX APIs, which help game developers avoid writing new versions for every new graphics card. The DirectX module contains many DLL files, and when some of them become corrupted, a 0xc00007b error appears when attempting to launch any game or application.

Therefore, we will try installing the DirectX module, which will overwrite the corrupted DLL files with the new ones.

To install DirectX, follow these steps:

1. Download the DirectX installer from the link.
2. Once it has finished downloading, double-click the installer and follow the basic installation instructions.

   

3. Once completed, try launching the game or app that caused the error to check if the issue persists.

3. Install the .NET Framework.

.NET Framework is used to develop Windows-based applications. Hence, if the application requires .NET Framework to run but it is not installed on your Windows, try installing .NET Framework to fix this error.

To install .Net Framework:

1. Press the Windows key and type ‘Windows Features‘.

   

2. Open ‘Turn Windows Features On or Off‘ settings.
3. Here, select .Net Framework 3.5 and .Net Framework 4.8.
4. Once completed, click OK to install the features.

   

5. Once completed, try launching the culprit app or game to see if the error has been resolved.

4. Find the corrupted DLL file using Dependency Walker.

Dependency Walker is a diagnostic tool that allows users to find the corrupted DLL file causing the game or application to display the error message. By using this tool, you will be able to detect the corrupted DLL file. Once you discover it, you can replace the corrupted DLL file.

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Download Dependency Walker from the link.
2. Once the download is finished, extract the folder using WinRAR or 7-Zip.

   

3. Then, go to the extracted folder and run the Dependency Walker application.

   

4. Click “File” > “Open” and browse for the application’s .exe file.

   

5. Select the .exe file, and click ‘Open‘.

   

6. Under the module, you will find the name of the DLL file that is causing the error.                                      Note: Make sure you have compatible DLL files for the causing application according to the OS architecture. If you have 32-bit DLL files for the causing application, but your Windows is based on a 64-bit architecture, download the 64-bit DLL file.

   

7. To download the DLL file, visit dll-files.com and search for the specific DLL file.

   

8. Download the DLL file according to your OS architecture.

   

9. To check the Windows OS architecture, press the Windows + R keys to launch the Run Program.
10. Type “msinfo32” in the search box and click “OK” to open the System Information window.

    

11. Check your system type and download the DLL file accordingly.

    

12. Once the download is finished, extract the folder and navigate into it.

    

13. Copy the DLL file from the folder.

    

14. Paste the DLL file into the following directory.

    C:\Windows\System32

15. A short window will appear, asking to replace the file with the existing one. Select “Replace the file in the destination.

    

16. Once completed, launch the related game or app to check if the error has been fixed.

5. Restore the corrupted DLL files.

Since this error occurs due to certain common DLL files, we can attempt to replace them to resolve this issue. The most common DLL file responsible for causing this error is xinput1_3.dll. If this file becomes corrupted by malicious software, the game or app cannot utilize it for its intended purposes, resulting in this error message.

Go to the link and download the folder. This folder contains all the common DLL files that Windows or applications usually require to run properly.

Applications and games are developed using DLL files. Therefore, if the error persists after replacing the Windows DLL files, you can try replacing the application or game DLL files.

1. Once you have downloaded the folder, right-click on it and extract it using the WinRAR utility.

   

2. Once completed, open the extracted folder and navigate to the DLL files. Copy all of them by pressing Ctrl + A on the keyboard.

   

3. Now, go to the following location.

   C:\Windows\System32

4. Paste all the copied DLL files here and select ‘Replace the file in the destination.’

   

5. Once done, try launching the application. If the error persists, follow the remaining steps.
6. Again, go to the extracted DLL file folder, and this time navigate to the in-game folder > Solving Error > 64 or 32 (according to your OS architecture).
7. Copy the DLL files, right-click the game shortcut on the desktop, and select ‘Open File Location.’ You can also directly navigate to the game directory folder.

   

8. Paste the copied DLL files here, and then try launching the game to see if the error is fixed.

   

6. Reinstall the affected application.

If the error has not been fixed yet, it is possible that the application’s DLL files have been corrupted by malware or third-party antivirus software. To ensure this, try reinstalling the game or application, which will fix all the corrupted DLL files causing this error.

To reinstall the application, follow these steps:

1. Open the settings and go to Apps on the left.
2. Open the Installed Apps settings and search for the app or game causing the error.

   

3. Click “Uninstall.” Then, click “Uninstall” again to confirm the action.

   

4. Now go through the remaining steps to uninstall the application.
5. Once completed, download the application from the official website and install it on your computer to see if the error persists.

7. Update Windows.

DLL files can be restored by updating Windows, as Windows verifies protected system files during the installation of updates. Furthermore, if your Windows is missing any Microsoft Visual C++ or .NET Framework version that contains the specific DLL file causing this error, try updating Windows to obtain all the Microsoft Visual C++ and .NET Framework versions needed to resolve this issue.

To update Windows:

1. Press the Windows key and type “Check for updates.

   

2. Launch the Windows update settings and click Check for updates.

   

3. If the updates are found, download them and restart your computer to install them.
4. Once completed, launch the associated app or game to check whether the error has been fixed or not.

8. Run the System File Checker.

System File Checker, short for SFC, is a command line utility that is used to restore corrupted system files from the cache folder, such as DLL and Exe files. To execute the sfc command, follow the steps:

1. Press the Windows key and search for Command Prompt.
2. Right-click the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
   

   

3. Enter the following command and wait for the verification process to be finished.

   sfc/ scannow

   

4. Once the command is executed, it will tell you that the corrupted system files have been repaired.
5. Once done, launch the application or game to check for errors. If the error persists, proceed to the final solutions.

9. Use a system restore utility.

System Restore utility is a troubleshooting tool that takes a snapshot of the current state of Windows-protected system files and saves it as a restore point. This allows users to restore Windows to a previous state if something goes wrong. However, this process requires a restore point to be created when Windows and applications were functioning properly.

1. To use a restore point, press the Win + R keys together to open the Run program.
2. Enter the “rstrui” command in the Run program, and click “OK” to run the utility.

   

3. Click “Next,” select a restore point, and then click “Next” again.

   

4. Click Finish to restore Windows to its previous state.
5. Once completed, launch the corresponding application or game to see if the error has been fixed.

10. Reset or Reinstall Windows

If the error still persists, the final method is to reset or reinstall Windows. If you plan to reinstall Windows, refer to ‘How to Reinstall Windows.’ However, if you want to reset Windows, you can follow the steps. Resetting Windows won’t remove your data if you choose the ‘Keep My Files’ option, but it will uninstall drivers and programs located in the Windows drive.

To reset Windows:

1. Click the Start Menu and type “Reset this PC” in the search box.

   

2. Open the settings and click on “Reset PC.

   

3. Select “Keep my files” from the options, then choose “Local Reinstall.

   

4. Click ‘Next‘ and then click ‘Reset‘. This will reset your Windows as if it were newly installed.

   

5. Once completed, your error should be fixed.

Addressing the 0xc00007b error is crucial for a seamless computing experience. By understanding its causes and implementing the provided solutions, users can ensure the health and efficiency of their systems. Regular maintenance, updates, and backups are the cornerstones of a trouble-free Windows experience.