When DLL files go missing, your Windows PC may start showing issues. One such issue you can encounter due to missing or corrupted DLL files is error code 0xc0000142. This error might occur when you try launching some program on your PC, and you may get the error message ‘The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142).’

Generally, the reason behind this issue is the DLL file or due to some issues with the Visual C++ Redistributable package. If the application does not start on your PC and you are getting 0xc0000142, then this guide will help you fix it.

Ways to Fix the Application was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000142)

Given below are various troubleshooting steps to help fix ‘The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000142)’-

1. Fix Corrupted Files

This error is generally encountered due to corrupted system files. You can run SFC scan on your PC to scan for corrupted files and fix them. To do so, follow the steps given below-

  1. Click on the Start icon on the taskbar, type Command Prompt, select it, and then click on Run as Administrator. In the terminal, execute the command written below-
    • sfc /scannowsfc/scannow
  2. The process will take some time; wait till the status reaches 100% and then restart your PC.

2. Update Windows 

Updating Windows to the latest version worked out for many users and solved this issue. You can try updating the Windows and check if you still face the issue or not.

  1. Press Windows key and then click on the Settings icon here.
  2. Click on Windows Update from the left, and then on the right side, click on the Check for Updates button.check for updates
  3. Any updates available will be listed on this screen; download and install them.

3. Scan PC for Virus

Viruses and malware may mess up your system and corrupt your system files. You can run a virus scan to repair the virus infection. To scan your PC for the virus, follow the steps given below-

  1. Open the Start Menu, search for Windows Security and click on the first option that appears.Windows Security
  2. Here, click Virus & threat protection and then click on Scan Options.
  3. Next, select Full Scan and click on Scan Now to run the virus scan.full scan
  4. Wait till the scan is completed and the issue will be fixed.

It is unnecessary to run Windows Security to scan your PC for the virus. If you have a third-party antivirus on your PC, then you can use it to run the virus scan.

4. Run the Program in Compatibility Mode

‘The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000142)’ may also be encountered due to the program’s incompatibility with the system. You can try running the program in compatibility mode to fix this issue.

  1. Right-click on the program icon on the desktop, and then click on Properties. If the program icon is not on the desktop, then follow the steps given below-
    • Press the Windows key, search for the program you are facing the problem with, right-click on it and then click on Open File Location.
    • Now, right-click on the program icon on the next window and click on Properties.
  2. Here, under the Compatibility tab, check the checkbox for Run this program in compatibility mode for.Run this program in compatibility mode for
  3. Now, click on the drop-down menu and select Windows 7 or Windows 8.
  4. Click on Apply and then on OK to save the changes.

5. Reregister DLL Files

Another thing that you can try doing is reregistering the DLL files. You can reregister the DLL files by following the steps given below-

  1. Firstly, run the Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. Now, execute the following commands one by one-
    • for %i in (%windir%\system32*.dll) do regvr32.exe / s%i
    • for %i in (%windir%\system32*.dll) do regvr32.exe / s%i
  3. Once done, the issue should be fixed.

6. Reinstall Redistributable Packages

You may also face this issue due to the Visual C++ Redistributable package. You can try reinstalling it to fix the issue.

  1. Press the Windows key, search for Control Panel and click on the relevant search result.
  2. Here under the Programs section, click on Uninstall a program option.Uninstalled a Program
  3. You will see Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package here; there will be multiple packages listed here.
  4. Select the package, and then click on Uninstall. Click on Uninstall again to confirm uninstalling the program.
  5. Do this for all the Visual C++ Redistributable packages on your PC.
  6. Now, visit the official page of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package by clicking on this link.
  7. Here, click on the Download button to download the file.
  8. Press Windows + E key combo to open File Explorer and head to the location where the downloaded file is saved.
  9. Double-click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the program on your PC.

Conclusion

Issues like ‘The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000142)’ are common with Windows, and the above steps should help fix this issue. In case the issue is still encountered, then you might have to reset your Windows PC or reinstall Windows. We hope this guide helped solve the issue you have been facing.

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