msvcp100.dll Startup Failure: Trace the App Before Repair

Start with these three checks

Before changing Windows, write down:

• Which program, game, launcher, installer, scanner utility, or printer utility shows the error.
• Whether the failure happens when launching the program, installing it, updating it, or opening a particular file.
• Whether the affected application is 32-bit or 64-bit.

This information determines the correct repair. A 64-bit Windows installation can still be running a 32-bit application that needs the x86 runtime.

msvcp100.dll is a Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 runtime file. If it is missing or unusable, the safest first repair is to install or repair the official Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package that matches the affected application.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Do not start by downloading an individual DLL, copying it into System32, or registering it with regsvr32. Those actions often leave the real runtime problem unresolved and can create a wrong-architecture or corrupted-file error.

What msvcp100.dll is

msvcp100.dll belongs to Microsoft Visual C++ 2010, also called Visual C++ 10.0. It supplies C++ standard-library functionality that applications compiled with that development environment may require. Microsoft lists it alongside msvcr100.dll, another Visual C++ 2010 runtime component, in the Visual C++ 2010 package files. Microsoft’s Visual C++ 2010 file list

It is:

• A runtime dependency.
• Part of the Visual C++ 2010 redistributable family.
• Commonly installed by an application installer or by the Microsoft redistributable package.
• Sometimes shipped as an application-private file beside a program’s executable.

It is not normally a built-in Windows component, a DirectX file, a .NET Framework file, or a device driver. A clean Windows installation can therefore lack msvcp100.dll without Windows itself being defective. Microsoft describes Visual C++ Redistributable packages as application prerequisites installed with programs built using Microsoft C and C++ tools. Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable documentation

The number 100 identifies the Visual C++ 10.0 generation. Installing a newer runtime does not automatically replace every older runtime. Visual C++ 2013 and earlier redistributables remain installed side by side because applications may require their original generation. Microsoft runtime-version guidance

Which error are you seeing?

The wording varies according to the Windows version and the program displaying the dialog. Common examples include:

The program can’t start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.

The code execution cannot proceed because MSVCP100.dll was not found. Reinstalling the program may fix this problem.

You may also see:

• MSVCP100.dll could not be loaded
• MSVCP100.dll was not found
• The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)
• A launcher or installer that closes before the main application opens
• A second message mentioning msvcr100.dll, mfc100.dll, or another runtime file

A different class of error says:

C:\Windows\System32\MSVCP100.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error.

That is a Bad Image or invalid-image-format family of errors. It usually points to the wrong architecture, a damaged binary, an incompatible application-local copy, or another dependency that Windows cannot load. It is not the same as a simple missing-file message.

Choose x86 or x64 correctly

The redistributable architecture must match the application, not merely the operating system.

Affected application	Package to install
32-bit application	vcredist_x86.exe
64-bit application	vcredist_x64.exe
Unknown application on 64-bit Windows	Install both x86 and x64
Any application on 32-bit Windows	Install x86

On 64-bit Windows:

• %windir%\System32 is the native 64-bit system directory.
• %windir%\SysWOW64 is the 32-bit system-directory view.

The names are confusing, but the application architecture is what matters. A 32-bit game needs the x86 runtime even when Windows itself is 64-bit. Microsoft documents the relationship between these directory views in its File System Redirector documentation.

If you do not know whether the program is 32-bit or 64-bit, installing both official 2010 packages on 64-bit Windows is a reasonable troubleshooting step. It is not necessary for every individual program.

Fix 1: Install the official Visual C++ 2010 runtime

This is the fastest and most likely repair when the error names msvcp100.dll.

Use Microsoft’s official Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update download page. Do not use a standalone DLL download page.

Install the required package

1. Close the affected program.
2. Close its launcher, updater, or installer.
3. Open the Microsoft Download Center page.
4. Download vcredist_x86.exe for a 32-bit application.
5. Download vcredist_x64.exe for a 64-bit application.
6. If the application architecture is unknown and Windows is 64-bit, download both.
7. Right-click the downloaded installer and select Run as administrator.
8. Accept the license terms.
9. Let the installation finish.
10. Restart Windows.
11. Launch the original program again.

Microsoft’s current Visual C++ download index identifies the 2010 package as version 10.0.40219.325 for both x86 and x64. The Microsoft file table documents the corresponding msvcp100.dll package files and their architecture-specific properties. These are reference values for the published package, not a guarantee that every legitimate application-private copy has identical properties. Microsoft’s current Visual C++ version table Microsoft SP1 file information

How to tell whether it worked

The repair worked if:

• The program opens normally.
• The installer proceeds past the point where it previously failed.
• The same error no longer appears after a restart.
• A second runtime error does not replace it.

If the message changes to msvcr100.dll, mfc100.dll, or another dependency, do not download that file individually. The complete Visual C++ 2010 redistributable may be missing, damaged, or the application may have additional prerequisites.

If the installer says the runtime is already installed, continue with the repair procedure below.

Fix 2: Repair or reinstall Visual C++ 2010

A package can be present but damaged, incomplete, or incorrectly registered with Windows Installer.

Repair through Windows Settings

On Windows 11:

1. Open Start > Settings.
2. Select Apps > Installed apps.
3. Search for Visual C++ 2010.
4. Find the relevant Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 redistributable entry.
5. Select the three-dot menu.
6. Choose Modify, Change, or Repair, depending on what Windows displays.
7. Follow the installer prompts.
8. Restart Windows.
9. Test the affected application.

On Windows 10:

1. Open Start > Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Choose Apps & features.
4. Search for Visual C++ 2010.
5. Select the relevant entry.
6. Choose Modify or Change.
7. Select Repair if the installer provides it.
8. Restart Windows and test the program.

The exact button depends on the redistributable installer and Windows Installer state.

Reinstall only the affected 2010 package

If repair is unavailable or fails:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps on Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features on Windows 10.
2. Locate the affected Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 or x64 entry.
3. Uninstall only that matching 2010 entry.
4. Restart Windows.
5. Download the official package again from Microsoft.
6. Install the required x86 or x64 package.
7. Restart Windows once more.
8. Test the application.

Do not remove every Visual C++ version from the computer. Other programs may depend on Visual C++ 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, or another runtime generation.

Optional command-line installation

Microsoft documents command-line switches for redistributable installers that support them, including:

/?
/install
/repair
/uninstall
/passive
/quiet
/norestart
/log filename.txt

For a current-style x64 redistributable installer, an example is:

vc_redist.x64.exe /install /passive /norestart

Legacy Visual C++ 2010 installers may not support every option documented for newer redistributables. Use /? first to display the switches supported by the specific installer you downloaded. Microsoft’s redistributable deployment documentation explains the supported deployment approach.

A successful silent or passive installation should return without an installer error and should place the runtime where applications can load it. Restart Windows before testing.

Fix 3: Repair or reinstall the affected application

If only one program fails, the application itself may contain a damaged private copy of msvcp100.dll or another missing dependency.

Use the program’s own repair process first.

Repair a traditional desktop program

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select Programs > Programs and Features.
3. Find the affected program.
4. Right-click it.
5. Choose Repair or Change.
6. Follow the installer prompts.
7. Restart Windows if requested.
8. Launch the program again.

If no repair option exists:

1. Uninstall the affected program.
2. Restart Windows.
3. Download or launch the installer from the original vendor, store, disc, or trusted application launcher.
4. Reinstall the complete application.
5. Allow the installer to install its prerequisites.
6. Test the program before adding unofficial patches or DLL files.

For a Microsoft Store or Settings-managed application:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Select the application’s three-dot menu.
3. Choose Advanced options.
4. Select Repair.
5. Test the application.
6. If repair fails, use Reset only if you understand that it may remove the application’s local settings or data.

When an application ships its own private runtime beside its executable, reinstalling that exact application is often the definitive fix. A machine-wide Visual C++ installation may not repair a damaged application-local copy.

Fix 4: Verify game files

If the error affects a game, an interrupted update or damaged game file may be responsible.

For Epic Games Launcher:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher.
2. Open your library.
3. Select the three dots beside the game.
4. Choose Manage.
5. Select Verify.
6. Wait for the scan to complete.
7. Launch the game again.

Epic’s verification process replaces missing or corrupted game files without affecting saved data. It may repair an application-local DLL, but it does not necessarily install the machine-wide Visual C++ 2010 redistributable. Epic’s file-verification instructions

Other launchers usually provide a similar command under a game’s properties, manage menu, or installed-files section. Use that launcher’s repair or verification function before manually replacing files.

Fix 5: Check Windows Security quarantine

Antivirus software can quarantine a runtime file after a program update, an incomplete installation, or a false positive.

To check Microsoft Defender:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Windows Security.
3. Open it.
4. Select Virus & threat protection.
5. Select Protection history.
6. Review recent actions involving the affected application or msvcp100.dll.
7. Note the original file path and program name.

Do not restore a file merely because its name looks familiar.

If the file came from an unknown installer, an unofficial patch, a torrent, or a DLL download website, leave it quarantined and reinstall the application from a trusted source.

If the file came from a verified vendor package and a false positive is strongly suspected, confirm the file’s origin and follow the vendor’s guidance before using the protection-history action. Microsoft warns that restoring a quarantined file can cause Defender to detect it again, and allowing an unsafe file can expose the computer. Microsoft Protection History guidance

After handling quarantine, reinstall the official redistributable or the affected application. That replaces the file through a trusted package instead of relying on an uncertain restored copy.

Fix 6: Update Windows, then repair components if necessary

Windows Update is not normally the primary provider of msvcp100.dll, but an outdated or damaged Windows installation can interfere with installers and application loading.

Check for Windows updates

On Windows 11:

1. Open Start > Settings.
2. Select Windows Update.
3. Choose Check for updates.
4. Install available updates.
5. Restart Windows.
6. Test the application.

On Windows 10:

1. Open Start > Settings.
2. Select Update & Security.
3. Choose Windows Update.
4. Select Check for updates.
5. Install available updates.
6. Restart Windows.

Microsoft provides the current Windows Update installation instructions.

Run DISM and SFC in the correct order

Use these commands when:

• The redistributable installer fails repeatedly.
• Several unrelated applications fail.
• Windows reports broader component corruption.
• The problem began after an interrupted update or system repair.

• Windows features or installers behave abnormally.

• Open Start.

• Search for Command Prompt or Terminal.
• Right-click it.
• Select Run as administrator.
• Approve the User Account Control prompt.
• Run:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

1. Wait for DISM to complete.
2. Run:

sfc /scannow

1. Wait until SFC reaches 100 percent.
2. Restart Windows.
3. Reinstall or repair Visual C++ 2010 if the original installer still failed.
4. Test the affected program.

Microsoft recommends running DISM before SFC because DISM can repair the component store that SFC uses. Microsoft’s DISM and SFC instructions

If Windows Update cannot supply the repair files, Microsoft documents this form:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess

Replace C:\RepairSource\Windows with a valid repair source that matches the installed Windows version and edition.

SFC and DISM are not substitutes for Visual C++ 2010. msvcp100.dll is normally a Visual C++ runtime file rather than a protected base-Windows file, so SFC may report that it found no integrity violation even when the runtime is absent.

Repeating DISM and SFC without identifying whether the runtime or application is actually damaged can waste time. Outbyte PC Repair can scan for system problems and show what it found; its repair function is provided by the full version, so it remains optional and does not replace installing the official Visual C++ package.

Windows Features are not the Visual C++ fix

Do not enable random Windows Features to obtain msvcp100.dll.

To inspect them:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select Programs.
3. Choose Turn Windows features on or off.
4. Review the available features.
5. Close the dialog without changing anything unless you have a separate reason to enable a feature.

.NET Framework options, legacy components, and other Windows Features are not interchangeable with the Visual C++ 2010 redistributable. Installing DirectX, .NET, or a media feature will not normally install msvcp100.dll.

A Windows Feature becomes relevant only if the application’s own documentation specifically requires it. Diagnose the named application and its Visual C++ prerequisite first.

Fix 7: Deal with Bad Image and 0xc000007b errors differently

A missing-file error usually points to an absent runtime. A Bad Image message or 0xc000007b usually means Windows found a file but could not load it correctly.

Possible causes include:

• x86 and x64 files being mixed.
• A damaged msvcp100.dll.
• An application directory containing an old or incorrect copy.
• A missing dependency of msvcp100.dll.
• Another DLL being the actual invalid image.
• A manually copied file from another computer.
• An incomplete application installation.

Use this order:

1. Note whether the program is 32-bit or 64-bit.
2. Install the matching official Visual C++ 2010 package.
3. Repair or reinstall the affected application.
4. Inspect the application folder for an unofficial or recently copied msvcp100.dll.
5. Do not replace files in System32 or SysWOW64 by hand.
6. Run DISM and SFC only if there are broader Windows integrity symptoms.
7. Check the application vendor’s repair or prerequisite installer.

Windows commonly searches an application’s directory before system locations. That means a bad application-local copy can override a correct system runtime. Microsoft DLL search order

If a DLL was manually copied into the application folder, remove the unofficial copy only when you know it was added manually, then repair or reinstall the application. If the file was deliberately shipped by the vendor, let the vendor’s installer restore it.

Fix 8: Repair a scanner, printer, audio, graphics, or device utility

Some device utilities and driver bundles were compiled with Visual C++ 2010. If only a scanner control panel, printer utility, audio console, graphics utility, or hardware configuration program fails, reinstalling that complete vendor package may be more effective than repairing Windows.

First try the official Visual C++ 2010 package. Then:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps on Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features on Windows 10.
2. Find the affected device utility.
3. Select Uninstall if the vendor provides no repair option.
4. Restart Windows.
5. Download the complete software package from the hardware manufacturer’s official support channel.
6. Install the package as administrator.
7. Restart Windows.
8. Test the utility.

Check Device Manager

Device Manager will not install msvcp100.dll, but it can reveal a related device or driver problem.

1. Right-click Start.
2. Select Device Manager.
3. Expand the category related to the failing hardware.
4. Look for a warning icon.
5. Right-click the device.
6. Select Properties.
7. Read the Device status message under the General tab.
8. Open the Driver tab and note the provider and version.
9. Use Update Driver only with a driver package from the hardware vendor or Windows Update.
10. Restart Windows and test the utility.

Avoid uninstalling a working device driver merely because a companion utility reports msvcp100.dll. The runtime problem and the driver problem may be separate.

When several hardware packages need version hunting, Outbyte Driver Updater can scan and identify stale drivers; driver installation is handled by the full version, so use it as an optional convenience rather than as a replacement for the hardware vendor’s complete software package.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Why standalone DLL downloads are the wrong repair

Random DLL download websites are risky because the file may be:

• Modified or malicious.
• The wrong x86 or x64 architecture.
• The wrong Visual C++ generation.
• An incompatible build.
• Missing related files such as msvcr100.dll.
• Placed in a directory that overrides the correct runtime.
• Untrusted and impossible to connect to the original application installer.

A copied DLL may make the first message disappear while producing 0xc000007b, Bad Image, crashes, or a second missing dependency.

Use these sources instead:

• The official Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Download Center page.
• The application’s original installer or launcher.
• The hardware vendor’s complete utility package.
• Microsoft’s Visual C++ Redistributable version guidance.

The correct exception is an application vendor deliberately shipping a private runtime beside its own executable. Even then, restore it by repairing or reinstalling that exact application package rather than downloading a replacement DLL.

Do not use regsvr32 for msvcp100.dll

Do not run:

regsvr32 msvcp100.dll

regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that expose registration entry points such as DllRegisterServer, usually COM or ActiveX components. A runtime library such as msvcp100.dll is loaded as an application dependency and is not normally something an end user registers manually.

If you run regsvr32 against a non-self-registering DLL, Windows may report that the DllRegisterServer entry point was not found. Microsoft documents this behavior in its regsvr32 command documentation.

Install or repair the complete redistributable instead.

Fix 9: Test whether the problem is limited to one Windows account

If the application works under another account, the runtime may not be the only issue. The original user profile may have damaged settings, permissions, or application data.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Accounts.
3. Choose Other users.
4. Select Add account.
5. Create a temporary local or Microsoft account.
6. Sign in to that account.
7. Test the application.

If the application works there, repair or reset the original application profile, permissions, or configuration. Do not immediately copy DLLs between user profiles. Microsoft’s Windows account-management instructions cover adding and managing accounts.

If the same error appears under every account, focus on the redistributable, application installation, architecture, quarantine, and Windows component checks.

Fix 10: Use System Restore after a recent system change

System Restore is appropriate when the application worked until a driver, cleanup utility, runtime change, application update, or other system change.

1. Press Win+R.
2. Enter:

rstrui.exe

1. Press Enter.
2. Select Next.
3. Choose a restore point from before the failure began.
4. Select Scan for affected programs.
5. Review what will be changed.
6. Confirm the restore.
7. Let Windows restart.
8. Test the application.

System Restore normally affects system files, registry settings, and installed programs rather than personal files, but review the affected-program list before confirming. Microsoft System Restore guidance

After restoring, reinstall the correct Visual C++ package if necessary and prevent the original damaged installer or unofficial DLL source from being used again.

Practical cause-and-fix checklist

Likely cause	What usually fixes it
Visual C++ 2010 is absent	Install the official x86 or x64 redistributable
Only the wrong architecture is installed	Install x86 for a 32-bit app or x64 for a 64-bit app
The runtime installation is damaged	Repair, then reinstall the matching package
One game or application has damaged files	Repair, reinstall, or verify that application
An application-local DLL is wrong	Remove the unofficial copy and reinstall the application
Defender quarantined the file	Check Protection History and reinstall from a trusted source
Several applications fail	Update Windows, then run DISM followed by SFC
A device utility fails	Reinstall the complete hardware vendor package
Only one user account fails	Test another account and repair the affected profile
A driver or system change preceded the failure	Use System Restore if an appropriate restore point exists
Malware or disk corruption is suspected	Scan the system, back up data, and investigate file integrity

This is a practical troubleshooting order, not a published Microsoft prevalence ranking.

Advanced diagnosis when the normal fix fails

If the official runtime is installed and the application still fails, gather evidence before making more changes.

Record:

• The complete error text.
• Any status code, including 0xc000007b.
• The executable named in the dialog.
• Windows edition, version, and architecture.
• Whether one program or several programs fail.
• Whether the problem began after an update, antivirus alert, reinstall, or cleanup.
• Whether the program is 32-bit or 64-bit.
• Whether msvcp100.dll exists in the application folder, System32, or SysWOW64.
• Whether the vendor supplies a prerequisite installer.

Microsoft documents Dependency Walker for examining missing, invalid, or wrong-platform dependencies, and Process Monitor for observing file and process activity. Microsoft DLL troubleshooting Microsoft Process Monitor

Use advanced tools to identify the failing dependency, not to download replacement DLLs from untrusted sources.

If the file exists but the program still fails, presence alone proves very little. The file may be the wrong architecture, corrupted, incompatible, missing one of its dependencies, or hidden by another copy in the application directory.

FAQ

Is msvcp100.dll a Windows system file?

It is a runtime file used by applications, not normally a protected base-Windows component. It is associated with Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 and is commonly installed by a redistributable package or application installer.

Should I install Visual C++ 2015–2022 instead?

Not as a substitute for Visual C++ 2010. Newer redistributables do not generally provide msvcp100.dll, and older Visual C++ generations remain side by side for compatibility.

I have 64-bit Windows. Do I need x64?

Only if the failing application is 64-bit. A 32-bit application needs x86 even on 64-bit Windows. If the architecture is unknown, installing both official packages on 64-bit Windows is a reasonable troubleshooting choice.

Do I need both msvcp100.dll and msvcr100.dll?

Many Visual C++ 2010 applications use both. Install or repair the complete redistributable rather than copying either file individually. Microsoft lists both components in the Visual C++ 2010 package files. Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 file list

Can SFC restore msvcp100.dll?

Usually not. SFC repairs protected Windows system files. It may repair broader component corruption that prevents an installer from working, but it is not the normal provider of this Visual C++ runtime file.

Should I copy msvcp100.dll into System32?

No. Manual copying can install the wrong architecture, leave related dependencies missing, or cause a Bad Image error. Install the correct redistributable or repair the affected application.

Will DirectX or .NET fix this error?

Not normally. DirectX and .NET are separate dependencies. Install Visual C++ 2010 unless the application reports an additional, unrelated prerequisite problem.

Why does the error remain when the file is already present?

The copy may be corrupt, incompatible, the wrong architecture, missing a dependency, or overridden by another copy in the application directory. Repair the redistributable and the affected application instead of trusting file presence.

Is 0xc000007b always caused by msvcp100.dll?

No. It can involve several invalid or mismatched dependencies. Check application architecture, the complete runtime installation, application-local files, and other dependencies.

What if only one game fails?

Verify the game files or repair and reinstall that game. A game may use a private runtime copy that a machine-wide Visual C++ repair does not replace.

What if the official installer says the runtime is already installed?

Use Modify, Change, or Repair from Installed apps or Programs and Features. If repair fails, uninstall only the affected 2010 redistributable entry, restart, and install the official package again.

When should I contact the application vendor?

Contact the vendor when the correct x86 or x64 runtime is installed, the application has been repaired or reinstalled, antivirus quarantine has been checked, and the error affects only that program. Provide the complete error text, executable name, Windows architecture, and whether the application includes its own prerequisite installer.

The goal is a working application, not merely a DLL that happens to exist in a Windows folder.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.