Fix: The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142)

The application was unable to start correctly due to error 0xc0000142. This error typically occurs when users attempt to launch applications and games. According to our research, it appears most frequently with games and Microsoft Word applications. The error often indicates corrupted DLL files. However, it has not yet been confirmed that corrupted DLL files are always the root cause. It could also be due to a lack of administrator permissions, a corrupted .Net Framework, or an outdated Windows operating system.

 There are even more reasons that can trigger this error. We have provided some of the leading causes below.

• Temporary issue – The issue can be temporary as it may be caused by corrupt data stored in the RAM. As a result, you may run into many problems unless you restart your computer to clear the corrupted data.
• Outdated Windows – If you have not updated your Windows for a long time, the error may be a result of this outdated software. It is highly recommended to update your Windows as outdated versions support obsolete programs and may not be compatible with the latest applications. Therefore, updating your Windows is necessary.
• Corrupted Microsoft .NET Framework – If the Microsoft .NET Framework becomes corrupted, you may encounter this error. The .NET Framework is required to run and create .NET apps.
• Corrupted Microsoft Visual C- Microsoft Visual C++ is a code compiler that allows running applications written in C++ and C languages. If the Microsoft Visual C++ files are corrupted, you may not be able to run applications. Therefore, you may need to reinstall Microsoft Visual C++.
• Corrupted System Files – Another cause that could be implicated as a culprit are corrupted system files. System files are the files that execute many tasks, including the installation of the application to the system. If system files become corrupted, you will encounter this error.
• Corrupted DLL Files – DLL, or Dynamic Link Library, allows other programs to share code when performing various tasks. DLL files can be used by different applications simultaneously. If they become corrupted, you may face several issues while running applications.
• Not having administrator permissions can sometimes cause Windows components to block the application files, interfering with the launching process. Therefore, you will need to run the program with administrator privileges.
• Interference of Antivirus- As it turns out, interference from a Windows defender or a third party can cause this error. Window’s inbuilt antivirus has the ability to block the application if it contains malware or malicious data. However, antivirus sometimes interferes without any reason by blocking the files. Therefore, you may need to temporarily disable the Windows defender.

1. Reboot your computer

First, you can try rebooting your computer, as the error may occur due to corrupt data stored in the RAM. Moreover, restarting the computer eliminates the temporary bugs and glitches that could be preventing the application from launching. Therefore, restarting the computer might help fix the issue: ‘The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142).’

2. Run the application as an administrator.

Another easy and effective solution is to run the application with administrator privileges. The benefit of running a program with administrator permissions is that it eliminates all the interference from inside and outside programs.

1. To run the application as an administrator, right-click on the application or game
2. Click Properties and go to the Compatibility tab from the top.

   

3. Tick the option ‘Run This Program as an Administrator‘.
4. Additionally, check ‘Run This Program in Compatibility Mode For’.
5. Select Windows 7 or Windows 8 from the bottom menu,
6. Click ‘Apply’, then click ‘OK’.

   

7. Once done, launch the application and see if it fixes the issue.

3. Change the current system locale.

Should the incorrect region be selected, you might come across an error saying ‘The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142).’ This happens because most applications require the correct region to function properly. Please follow the steps to ensure the correct region is selected. If it is and the problem persists, consider trying the next method.

1. To check the region, click on the Start Menu and type ‘Control Panel’“.
2. Open the control panel and choose Small Icons from the View By menu
3. Click on ‘Region’ from the listed options.

   

4. Go to the Administrator from the top and click on ‘Change System Locale’.
5. Select your region and click OK
6. Once done, click Apply and press OK to save the changes

   

7. Now launch the application and check if the error persists.

4. Modify the Registry File

Another solution to fix this issue is to change the value data of LoadAppInit_DLLs, a file that loads all the DLL files. According to several affected users, the error can be resolved by altering this value data. Before making any changes to the registry file, ensure to create a registry backup. Below are the instructions:

1. Click on the Start Menu and type
2. Launch the terminal as an administrator by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

   

3. Copy and paste the following command and hit Enter” is clear and understandable.

   reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows" /v "LoadAppInit_DLLs" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

   

4. Once done, launch the application and check if the issue is resolved.

5. Using commands to re-register all DLL files.

There is a registry command, which allows users to register all DLL files at a time. Basically, it is a loop that will go through all the DLL files and register them. Follow the steps and see if it helps.

1. To re-register, press Windows + R to open the Run Program.
2. Type ‘cmd’ and then press the ‘Enter’ key.

   

3. Copy and paste the following command and hit Enter.

   for %i in (%windir%\system32\*.ocx) do regsvr32.exe /s %i

   

4. Once done, check if the issue is resolved.

6. Perform a Clean Boot

If the issue persists, try performing a clean boot to disable irrelevant Microsoft services at startup. A clean boot starts Windows with a minimum of services and drivers. Moreover, it disables third-party applications and programs to prevent interference with the problematic application and the troubleshooting process. However, you can re-enable the services by clicking on the ‘enable’ button. Below are the steps:-

1. To perform a clean boot, click on the Start Menu, type ‘MSConfig’ and ‘System Configuration’.
2. Choose Selective Startup and move on to the Services tab.

   

3. Click Hide All Microsoft Services and click Disable All,

   

4. Once done, restart your computer and then launch the application to check if the error persists.

7. Run the repair commands.

If the DLL files are corrupted, an error will arise. Therefore, you need to repair them in order to run the application. When discussing corrupted DLL files, we should first execute SFC and DISM commands. These are the command-line utilities used to restore corrupted files. DISM includes three commands, and each command effectively checks, scans, and restores the system files. On the other hand, SFC, short for System Files Checker, is typically executed to repair corrupted default Windows DLL files. Thus, DLL files get repaired. Follow the steps below to repair DLL files.

1. From the Start Menu, type ‘command prompt’.
2. Right-click on the command prompt and choose Run As Administrator
   

   

3. Once the terminal is launched, copy and paste each of the following commands, pressing Enter after each one.

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   sfc /scannow

   

4. Once you are done, launch the application and see if it fixes the error: ‘The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142).’

8. Reinstall the Microsoft .NET Framework

The Microsoft .NET Framework allows users to create and run .Net applications. According to several affected users, the error could be a result of a corrupted Microsoft .Net framework. Consequently, reinstalling the .Net Framework may resolve this issue. However, this solution does not apply to Windows 7 or older versions since we cannot uninstall the Microsoft .Net Framework manually from these older versions of the Windows OS. Thus, if you do not have Windows 8, 10, or 11, you may need to either update or reinstall the latest version in order to have the most recent Microsoft .Net Framework.

1. To reinstall Microsoft .NET Framework, open the Run window by pressing Win + R on your keyboard.
2. Type ‘Appwiz.CPL’ and click ‘OK’ to navigate to ‘Programs & Features’.

   

3. Once you are there, right-click on Microsoft .Net Framework and click Uninstall
   

   

4. Once done, go to the official Microsoft website to download and install the latest framework

9. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages

Microsoft Visual C++ is a compiler that allows applications written in C and C++ language to run. It is also used to create applications. According to the affected users, installing Microsoft Visual C++ can aid in fixing the issue ‘The application was unable to start correctly 0xc0000142’.

1. To reinstall Microsoft Visual C++, click Start Menu and type Control Panel
2. Open the Control Panel, then click on ‘Uninstall a Program’ to access Programs & Features.

   

3. Find and select Microsoft Visual C++ and click Uninstall.

   

4. Once you have uninstalled it, proceed to download and install the latest version of Microsoft Visual C++.

10. Update your Windows software

Another important fix for this error is to update Windows to the latest version. If the error occurs due to corrupted files, Windows updates will automatically repair them by replacing the files with the latest ones. If the error occurs while updating Windows, follow the steps outlined in the Windows update article.

1. To update your Windows, either go to ‘Settings’ from the ‘Start Menu’ or press ‘Win + I’ to launch settings.
2. Navigate to Update and Security.

   

3. Click ‘Check for Updates’, and if any new updates are found, install them. Then, restart your computer to see if the issue persists.

   

11. Run a check disk.

The error could also be caused by corrupted and damaged files in the C drive. Therefore, we need to repair the files if there is any problem with the disk. The commands check the hard disk status alongside repairing disk errors. Below are the instructions:-

1. Search for Command Prompt in the Start Menu.
2. Right-click on the command prompt and choose Run As Administrator.
3. Copy and paste the following command and hit Enter.

   chkdsk /f /r

   

4. Wait for the process to complete, then check if the error is fixed.

12. Reinstall the Application or Game

If the error is not resolved after performing all the workarounds, you may need to reinstall the application. This could be due to a corrupt installation of the application or game. If the error occurs while launching the game, you may need to verify or repair the game files.