vcomp100.dll Not Found: Repair Visual C++ 2010 Apps on Windows

If Windows says vcomp100.dll is missing, not found, or could not be loaded, install or repair the official Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable that matches the failing program. A 32-bit program needs the x86 package, a 64-bit program needs x64, and on 64-bit Windows installing both is usually the fastest safe fix for a vcomp100.dll launch error.

Do not download vcomp100.dll from a random DLL website or try to register it with regsvr32. Restore the Visual C++ runtime from Microsoft first, then repair the specific application if it is the only program still failing.

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What this file actually does

vcomp100.dll is Microsoft’s C/C++ OpenMP runtime for Visual C++ 2010. OpenMP is a programming interface that allows applications to divide certain workloads across multiple processor threads. A program compiled with Visual C++ 2010 and the /openmp option can depend on this runtime when it starts or when it reaches code that uses parallel processing.

Microsoft identifies Vcomp100.dll as the OpenMP runtime used by Visual C++ 2010 applications in its documentation about the /openmp compiler option. The file is part of the Visual C++ 2010 runtime family, not a random Windows filename.

The relevant package is the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update. Microsoft provides separate installers for x86 and x64 systems, along with an older IA-64 package that is not relevant to ordinary Windows 10 or Windows 11 PCs.

The 100 suffix refers to the Visual C++ 2010 generation. It does not mean the file is 100-bit, and it does not mean that installing every newer Visual C++ package will satisfy the dependency. Newer runtime families use different filenames, such as vcomp140.dll.

vcomp100.dll is not normally an inbox component of Windows. Windows can run perfectly without it until an older application that depends on the Visual C++ 2010 OpenMP runtime is launched. Installing Visual Studio itself is also not required. The redistributable runtime is enough for users who only need to run an application.

Microsoft lists Visual C++ 2010 separately from newer Visual C++ redistributables in its supported Visual C++ downloads table. The current v14 package is not a universal replacement for the Visual C++ 2010 runtime.

Error symptoms and the most likely cause

What you see	Most likely explanation	First action
“The program can’t start because VCOMP100.DLL is missing from your computer”	Visual C++ 2010 runtime is missing or damaged	Install or repair the official 2010 SP1 redistributable
“The code execution cannot proceed because VCOMP100.DLL was not found”	The application cannot resolve the runtime for its architecture	Install the x86 or x64 package that matches the application
The error appears for one game or program only	The application installation may be incomplete or corrupt	Repair, verify, or reinstall that application
The file exists in System32 but the error remains	Wrong architecture, bad copy, missing dependency, or search-path problem	Install both runtime architectures on 64-bit Windows and inspect the app folder
“Bad Image” or error 0xc000012f	The DLL or another dependency may be corrupt or incompatible	Repair the runtime and application; remove manually copied DLLs
Error 0xc000007b appears after copying a DLL	A mixed 32-bit and 64-bit dependency is likely	Undo the manual copy and reinstall the matching runtime
Windows Security quarantined the file	Antivirus removed a runtime or application file	Check Protection History and reinstall from an official source
The error appears during Windows startup	A startup entry or vendor utility is calling an incomplete application	Identify the parent program and repair or uninstall it
The Visual C++ installer fails	A locked file, damaged previous installation, permissions issue, or Windows Installer problem	Restart, run the installer as administrator, update Windows, and inspect the installer log

The missing-file wording is commonly reported by older desktop applications, games, and vendor utilities. Autodesk products have documented this type of Visual C++ runtime failure, and players have reported it with games including SOMA and CODE: Closers. These examples are not an exhaustive list of affected software.

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

This is the most likely solution when the error appears immediately after launching a program.

On 64-bit Windows

Install both architecture packages unless the software vendor explicitly tells you to install only one.

1. Open the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable download page.
2. Select the download button.
3. Choose vcredist_x86.exe.
4. Download and run it.
5. Accept the license terms and select Install.
6. Return to the download page and download vcredist_x64.exe.
7. Run the x64 installer and complete the installation.
8. Restart Windows.
9. Launch the affected application again.

Installing both packages is appropriate because 64-bit Windows runs both 64-bit and 32-bit applications. The operating system may be 64-bit while the game or utility that reports the error is still a 32-bit program.

Installing only vcredist_x64.exe does not satisfy a 32-bit application. That is one of the most common reasons users report that they installed Visual C++ but the vcomp100.dll error remains.

On 32-bit Windows

Install only vcredist_x86.exe.

To check the operating system type:

1. Right-click Start.
2. Select Settings.
3. Open System.
4. Select About.
5. Check System type.

If Windows reports a 32-bit operating system, the x86 package is the applicable choice. A 64-bit runtime cannot be installed as a substitute on a 32-bit Windows installation.

If Visual C++ 2010 is already installed

The existing installation may be incomplete or damaged.

1. Press Windows and search for Control Panel.
2. Open Control Panel.
3. Select Programs.
4. Select Programs and Features.
5. Find the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable entries.
6. Select the x86 entry and choose Change.
7. Select Repair if the option is available.
8. Repeat the process for the x64 entry on 64-bit Windows.
9. Restart the computer.

Some installations expose the same operation through Windows Settings:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Open Installed apps.
4. Search for Visual C++ 2010.
5. Open the menu beside the relevant entry.
6. Select Modify, Change, or Repair, depending on what Windows displays.

Do not uninstall every Visual C++ version before trying a repair. Different applications can depend on different Visual C++ generations, and redistributables are designed to coexist side by side.

How to tell whether this fix worked

The fix worked if the program launches normally after the restart. It may also work if the original missing-file message disappears and the application reaches its splash screen or main menu.

If the message changes to a different missing DLL or to a 0xc000007b error, the runtime installation may have fixed the original dependency while revealing another problem. Continue with the architecture and application-repair steps below.

Fix 2: Match the runtime to the application architecture

The application’s architecture matters more than the Windows architecture.

• A 32-bit application requires the x86 Visual C++ runtime.
• A 64-bit application requires the x64 Visual C++ runtime.
• A 64-bit Windows PC can run both types of applications.
• A 32-bit Windows PC uses the x86 runtime.

If you do not know the application’s architecture, installing both x86 and x64 packages on 64-bit Windows is usually the simplest approach.

The folder name can provide a clue. Applications installed under C:\Program Files (x86) are commonly 32-bit, while applications under C:\Program Files are commonly 64-bit. This is only a clue, not a guarantee, because installers and games can use custom folders.

Windows also separates system directories by architecture:

• C:\Windows\System32 conventionally contains native 64-bit system files on 64-bit Windows.
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64 contains 32-bit system files used by 32-bit processes.

This naming is confusing, but it is normal. Do not copy vcomp100.dll between these folders manually.

A file can exist in one directory while the failing program needs a different architecture. A DLL can also be present but unusable because it is corrupt, blocked, accompanied by a missing dependency, or being loaded from the wrong location.

Fix 3: Repair the affected application

If the Visual C++ runtime is installed correctly but one program still fails, the application’s own files are the next suspect.

Repair a traditional Windows program

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

You can also check Windows Settings:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Select Installed apps.
4. Find the program.
5. Open its menu.
6. Select Advanced options if available.
7. Select Repair.
8. Test the program.

Not every desktop application exposes a repair button. If no repair option exists, uninstall the application, restart Windows, and reinstall it from the original vendor, game launcher, or installation media.

Repair a Microsoft Store application

For a Store application:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Select Installed apps.
4. Find the application.
5. Open its menu.
6. Select Advanced options.
7. Select Repair.
8. If Repair does not help, select Reset.

Reset may remove the application’s local settings or cached data. Use it only after Repair fails and make sure important saves or configuration files are backed up.

Verify a Steam game

For a Steam game:

1. Open Steam.
2. Open Library.
3. Right-click the affected game.
4. Select Properties.
5. Select Installed Files.
6. Select Verify integrity of game files.
7. Wait for the verification to finish.
8. Launch the game again.

Game launchers often bundle prerequisite installers. If the game includes a Redist, Prerequisites, or similar folder, run the Visual C++ installer supplied with the game only if it is clearly part of the original installation. The official Microsoft package remains the preferred source when the bundled installer is missing or fails.

A game may still need to be reinstalled after repairing Visual C++. This is particularly likely when the launcher reports missing files, the error began after an interrupted update, or antivirus removed part of the game.

Fix 4: Check antivirus quarantine

Security software can remove or quarantine a runtime file after an application update, an incomplete installation, or a false detection.

Windows Security includes a record of recent actions:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Windows Security.
3. Open it.
4. Select Virus & threat protection.
5. Select Protection history.
6. Look for an event involving vcomp100.dll, the affected application, or its installer.
7. Open the event to review the path and action.

Do not blindly restore the file. First determine where it came from.

If the quarantined file was inside an official Microsoft installer or a trusted application installation:

1. Reinstall the Visual C++ runtime or affected application from its official source.
2. Run a fresh security scan.
3. Check whether the file is quarantined again.
4. Review the file’s Properties and Digital Signatures tab when applicable.
5. Allow or restore it only when you are confident that the source and installation are trusted.

Microsoft warns that restoring a quarantined file can cause Defender to detect it again. Reinstalling from the official source is safer than restoring an isolated copy from an unknown location.

If the file came from a random DLL download site, do not restore it. Remove the downloaded copy, run a security scan, and install the official runtime instead.

Fix 5: Remove an incorrect app-local DLL copy

Windows often searches the application’s own directory before searching system directories. That means a manually copied vcomp100.dll beside the program executable can take precedence over the correctly installed runtime.

This can produce several confusing outcomes:

• Windows says the file is missing even though another copy exists elsewhere.
• The program reports “Bad Image.”
• The application returns 0xc000007b.
• The application loads a wrong-architecture DLL.
• A corrupt file continues to be used after reinstalling Visual C++.

First locate the application’s installation folder. Do not modify System32 or SysWOW64.

If you knowingly copied vcomp100.dll into the application folder:

1. Close the application and its launcher.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. Browse to the folder containing the program’s .exe file.
4. Look for a manually added vcomp100.dll.
5. Rename it to vcomp100.dll.old rather than deleting it immediately.
6. Reinstall or repair the official Visual C++ runtime.
7. Repair or verify the application.
8. Launch the program again.

If the DLL was installed by the original application, use the application’s repair or reinstall process instead of removing it manually. The goal is to restore a complete, matching installation, not to build a custom DLL collection in the game folder.

Never replace protected Windows files by hand, and do not copy the DLL into both System32 and SysWOW64.

Fix 6: Handle a 0xc000007b or “Bad Image” error

A 0xc000007b message generally means Windows encountered an invalid or incompatible executable image. It has multiple possible causes and does not prove that vcomp100.dll alone is responsible.

A common sequence is:

1. The original program reports that vcomp100.dll is missing.
2. The user downloads a DLL from an unknown source.
3. The file is copied into the program folder.
4. The error changes to 0xc000007b.

That often indicates a 32-bit and 64-bit mismatch, a damaged DLL, or another missing dependency.

Use this repair order:

1. Close the application.
2. Remove or rename any manually copied vcomp100.dll in the application folder.
3. On 64-bit Windows, install or repair both the x86 and x64 Visual C++ 2010 packages.
4. Restart Windows.
5. Repair or verify the application.
6. Launch it again.

Do not respond to 0xc000007b by downloading more individual DLL files. If the error persists, record the complete message and identify whether the failing executable is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Fix 7: Reinstall a failed Visual C++ package safely

The Visual C++ installer can fail because of a locked file, incomplete previous installation, permissions, antivirus interference, Windows Installer problems, or a damaged package cache.

Try these steps in order:

1. Restart Windows.
2. Close game launchers, development tools, and vendor utilities.
3. Temporarily disconnect from unnecessary background applications.
4. Right-click the Microsoft redistributable installer.
5. Select Run as administrator.
6. Install the required package.
7. Restart Windows after the installer completes.
8. Retry the affected application.

If the installer still fails:

1. Record whether the failure occurred during installation, repair, or removal.
2. Record the exact architecture, such as x86 or x64.
3. Record the exact error code.
4. Check whether both Visual C++ 2010 entries appear in Programs and Features.
5. Look for a log named in the form dd_vcredist_<arch>_<timestamp>.log.
6. Keep that log with the installer error when seeking technical support.

Microsoft documents common Visual C++ redistributable installation failures, including errors 1603, 5, 32, 1620, and 1714, in its VC Redistributable installation troubleshooting guide.

Do not remove unrelated Visual C++ packages just to make the list look clean. Older applications may rely on them.

Fix 8: Repair Windows components with DISM and SFC

SFC and DISM are useful when several Windows programs are failing, the operating system has broader corruption, or the Visual C++ installer cannot operate correctly. They are not guaranteed to reinstall a third-party Visual C++ runtime.

Run DISM first, then SFC.

1. Right-click Start.
2. Select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
3. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
4. Enter this command:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

1. Press Enter.
2. Wait for the command to finish.
3. Then run:

sfc /scannow

1. Press Enter.
2. Wait until verification reaches 100 percent.
3. Restart Windows.
4. Repair or reinstall the Visual C++ runtime.
5. Test the application again.

A successful DISM operation reports that the restore operation completed successfully. SFC may report that it found no integrity violations or that it found and repaired corrupted files.

If SFC repairs files but vcomp100.dll is still missing, that is not unexpected. SFC repairs protected Windows system files, while vcomp100.dll is normally supplied through the Visual C++ redistributable or the application’s own installation.

Repeating SFC and DISM without recording what changed can make troubleshooting difficult. Outbyte PC Repair can perform a free scan that shows what it identifies, while repair is handled by the full version; it is optional, and reinstalling the affected application remains the definitive fix when the file belongs to that program.

If DISM or SFC reports an error, record the complete message and code. Do not assume that every component-repair result is related to the original Visual C++ problem.

Fix 9: Install pending Windows updates

Windows Update is not a substitute for Visual C++ 2010, but pending servicing updates can interfere with installers and system components.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Windows Update.
3. Select Check for updates.
4. Install available updates.
5. Restart Windows if requested.
6. Check for updates again.
7. Retry the Visual C++ installer.
8. Launch the affected application.

Do not expect Windows Update to supply vcomp100.dll directly. The file normally comes from the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable or a properly packaged application installation.

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Fix 10: Update or reinstall a related device driver

A graphics, printer, scanner, audio, or other hardware driver is not a general cause of a missing vcomp100.dll error. Driver work is relevant when the failing program is a vendor utility installed with the driver, or when the problem began immediately after a device package update.

To check a device through Device Manager:

1. Right-click Start.
2. Select Device Manager.
3. Expand the category related to the affected hardware.
4. Right-click the device.
5. Select Update driver.
6. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
7. Restart Windows if prompted.
8. Test the affected application.

If the driver installation itself appears damaged:

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand the relevant hardware category.
3. Right-click the device.
4. Select Uninstall device.
5. Confirm the removal.
6. Restart Windows.
7. Install the driver package supplied by the hardware manufacturer.
8. Repair or reinstall the vendor application that reports the vcomp100.dll error.

Do not uninstall a working graphics or chipset driver merely because one unrelated game reports a missing runtime.

If hunting through multiple hardware vendors and driver versions is the difficult part, Outbyte Driver Updater provides a free scan showing which drivers it identifies, while driver installation is handled by the full version; it is optional, and reinstalling the affected vendor program remains the definitive fix when that program owns the error.

Fix 11: Use System Restore after a known system change

System Restore is worth considering if the error began immediately after a driver installation, application update, cleanup operation, or other identifiable change.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter:

rstrui.exe

1. Press Enter.
2. Select Next.
3. Choose a restore point created before the problem began.
4. Select Scan for affected programs if available.
5. Review the programs and drivers that will be changed.
6. Select Next.
7. Select Finish.
8. Allow Windows to restart and complete the restoration.

System Restore rolls back system files, settings, installed programs, and drivers without normally affecting personal documents. It does not replace the need to reinstall the Visual C++ runtime if the runtime itself is missing.

Use it only when the restore point clearly predates the problem and you understand which applications or drivers will be rolled back.

Why regsvr32 usually does not apply

Do not run this as a routine fix:

regsvr32 vcomp100.dll

regsvr32 is designed for DLLs that expose registration entry points such as DllRegisterServer. Those DLLs are commonly COM, ActiveX, or related components that need registry entries.

vcomp100.dll is a runtime library, not a COM registration component. It normally does not need registration. Running regsvr32 may produce an error saying that the module was loaded but the DllRegisterServer entry point could not be found.

The correct fix is to install or repair the redistributable and then repair the application. Microsoft documents the regsvr32 command and the DllRegisterServer entry point separately.

Why downloading a single DLL is risky

A standalone DLL download can appear to solve the first message while leaving the actual dependency problem unresolved.

It can introduce:

• The wrong x86 or x64 architecture.
• An incompatible Visual C++ revision.
• A damaged or incomplete file.
• Malware or tampering.
• A missing dependent runtime.
• A later 0xc000007b or “Bad Image” error.
• A DLL search-order problem.

The safe sources are Microsoft’s Visual C++ 2010 SP1 download page and the original application or game vendor’s installer. Developers may redistribute the correct Microsoft runtime files with their applications under Microsoft’s redistribution terms, but that is different from an end user downloading one DLL and placing it in System32.

Windows Features is not the fix

The Windows Features dialog does not provide a general checkbox for Visual C++ 2010.

You can confirm that you are looking in the wrong place:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select Programs.
3. Select Turn Windows features on or off.
4. Review the available features.
5. Close the window without enabling unrelated components.

Do not enable .NET Framework, legacy media features, or other Windows components at random to fix vcomp100.dll. DirectX, .NET, graphics drivers, and Visual C++ are separate dependency families.

If the application specifically documents an optional Windows feature, follow that application’s instructions. Otherwise, return to the Visual C++ redistributable and application repair steps.

When the file exists but Windows still says it is missing

The filename alone does not prove that the failing process can use the file. Windows may be unable to load it because:

• The application is 32-bit but only x64 Visual C++ is installed.
• The application is 64-bit but only x86 Visual C++ is installed.
• The file is corrupt.
• The file is in the wrong directory.
• Another dependency of the DLL is missing.
• A manually copied version is being selected first.
• Antivirus blocked or removed it.
• The application is using a private copy.
• The program’s installation is incomplete.

Windows follows a defined DLL search order, and application-local files can take priority over system locations. Microsoft explains this behavior in its DLL search-order documentation.

The practical repair order is:

1. Install both x86 and x64 Visual C++ 2010 packages on 64-bit Windows.
2. Check antivirus Protection History.
3. Inspect the application folder for a manually copied DLL.
4. Repair or verify the application.
5. Reinstall the application if necessary.
6. Use SFC and DISM only when broader Windows corruption is also suspected.

When the error appears at startup

A startup pop-up does not always mean Windows itself needs vcomp100.dll. A startup entry, scheduled task, service, or vendor utility may be trying to launch an application whose files were removed.

Identify the program named in the error, then:

1. Search for that program in Installed apps.
2. Use its repair option.
3. If it is no longer needed, uninstall it.
4. Restart Windows.
5. Check whether the startup error returns.

Installing the runtime may restore the missing dependency, but it will not remove a stale startup reference to an application that has already been uninstalled.

Frequently asked questions

Is vcomp100.dll safe?

The genuine Microsoft runtime is a legitimate Visual C++ 2010 OpenMP component. Safety depends on its source, location, signature, and integrity. A file with the same name downloaded from an unknown website is not automatically trustworthy.

Use the official Microsoft redistributable or the original application installer.

Is vcomp100.dll part of Windows?

It is not normally an inbox Windows component. It is distributed through Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 runtime packages and may also be included with an application that uses OpenMP.

Does installing the latest Visual C++ package fix it?

Not necessarily. The current v14 runtime and the Visual C++ 2010 runtime are different generations. vcomp100.dll belongs to Visual C++ 2010, so install the 2010 SP1 redistributable.

Do I need x86 or x64?

Use x86 for a 32-bit application and x64 for a 64-bit application. On 64-bit Windows, installing both is often appropriate because the PC can run both application types.

Why does the file exist in System32 but the program still fail?

The application may need the other architecture, may be loading a different app-local copy, or may be unable to load one of the DLL’s dependencies. A visible filename is not proof that the correct binary is available to the process.

Should I copy vcomp100.dll into System32 or SysWOW64?

No. Do not copy a standalone DLL into either folder. Install the matching Microsoft redistributable instead.

Should I run regsvr32 vcomp100.dll?

Normally, no. This runtime DLL is not normally registered as a COM component, so regsvr32 is not the appropriate repair method.

What if antivirus quarantined it?

Check Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Protection history. Prefer reinstalling the official runtime or application. Restore a quarantined file only when you have verified its trusted origin.

What if the error changes to 0xc000007b?

Remove manually copied DLLs, install the correct x86 and x64 runtimes, and repair the application. 0xc000007b has multiple possible causes and is not proof that vcomp100.dll alone is responsible.

Will SFC restore the file?

Not reliably. SFC repairs protected Windows system files. vcomp100.dll normally comes from the Visual C++ redistributable or the application installation.

Do I need to install Visual Studio?

No. Running the application normally requires the redistributable runtime, not the full Visual Studio development environment.

Which programs use it?

Older applications, games, and vendor utilities compiled with Visual C++ 2010 and OpenMP can use it. Autodesk products, SOMA, and CODE: Closers are examples associated with reported errors, but no complete list of affected programs exists.

What to provide if the problem persists

If the runtime and application repair steps do not work, record:

• The exact program or game executable that fails.
• The complete error text.
• Whether the message says missing, not found, bad image, or 0xc000007b.
• Whether Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit.
• Whether you installed x86, x64, or both.
• The Visual C++ entries shown in Installed Apps or Programs and Features.
• Whether the error affects one program or several.
• Whether vcomp100.dll exists in the application folder.
• Whether Windows Security quarantined anything.
• The exact Visual C++ installer error code.
• The dd_vcredist_<arch>_<timestamp>.log file if the installer generated one.
• Whether the problem began after an update, driver installation, cleanup, or application reinstall.

That information separates a missing runtime from a wrong-architecture installation, a damaged game directory, antivirus interference, or broader Windows corruption. In most cases, the reliable path remains the same: install the official Visual C++ 2010 SP1 runtime, use the package architecture required by the application, and repair the application that still fails.

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