Error 0xc0000142 is quite common among Windows users and can appear when launching any application – be it a game or Microsoft Office. What does it mean and how to fix it? We tell you in our material.
What does error 0xc0000142 mean?
Error 0xc0000142 is an error code that appears when you try to run an application on the Windows operating system. It indicates a problem with the initialization of the application. The message usually looks like this:
- The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142). Click OK to close the application.
This error can occur on various versions of Windows, including Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. It indicates that the application was unable to properly load its components or access necessary system resources.
Why might error 0xc0000142 occur?
The problem with the 0xc0000142 error is that it is multifaceted. It can occur due to a variety of reasons, each of which is related to problems with the operating system or the application itself.
Problems with dynamic libraries (DLL)
Many applications in Windows depend on dynamic link libraries (DLLs) to perform various tasks. If any of the required DLLs are corrupted or missing, the application will not be able to load these libraries, resulting in an error.
If the required DLL files are not registered correctly in the system, the application will not be able to find and use them.
Corruption or incompatibility of system files
Windows system files can be damaged due to system crashes, viruses, or other reasons. This can prevent applications from working correctly. An application may be written for a different version of Windows, and therefore cannot interact correctly with system files.
Outdated or corrupted drivers
If the drivers for devices (such as graphics cards) are out of date, this can lead to conflicts when launching applications that actively use these devices. Damaged drivers caused by crashes or incorrect installation can also lead to the 0xc0000142 error.
Access rights issues
The application may lack permissions to access necessary system resources or files, causing it to not load correctly.
Conflicts with other installed programs
Some antivirus programs may mistakenly block applications, considering their actions as malicious. There may be programs installed on the system that conflict with the application you are running, especially if they use the same resources or libraries.
Problems with Windows updates
If your system is missing important Windows updates, applications may not work properly. In rare cases, Windows updates can cause problems with applications, resulting in error 0xc0000142.
Viruses and Malware
Some viruses can damage system files or application files, causing startup errors. Malware can infect DLL files, making them unusable by applications.
Problems with Windows registry
Incorrect entries in the Windows registry associated with the application can cause errors when it is launched. If the registry keys associated with the application launch are corrupted or incorrect, this can lead to the 0xc0000142 error.
Incorrect installation or update of the application
If the application was not installed or updated correctly, it may result in missing or damaged necessary files. In case of an incomplete or interrupted update, the application may remain in an unstable state, causing errors when starting.
Incorrect system settings
Some system settings, such as security settings or startup configurations, may be incompatible with the application, resulting in an error.
How to fix error 0xc0000142 when launching an application?
Error 0xc0000142 can be fixed in different ways depending on the reason for its occurrence. The recommendations below will help you to fix the problem.
Run the program as administrator
One of the easiest ways to fix error 0xc0000142 is to run the program with elevated rights, i.e. as an administrator.
- Locate the executable file of the program that is causing the error (usually a file with the .exe extension).
- Right click on this file.
- In the context menu that appears, select “Run as administrator”.
If the program runs without an error, the problem was most likely related to insufficient access rights. To always run the program as an administrator, you can set this in the file propertie.
- Right click on the .exe file and select Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check the box next to “Run this program as an administrator”.
- Click OK to save the changes.
Check installation path
Cyrillic in the installation path may cause problems with some applications, especially if they do not support non-Latin characters.
- Find the folder where the application causing the error is installed.
- Check the path to this folder for Cyrillic characters (for example, C:\Programs\Program_Name).
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- If the path contains Cyrillic characters, it is recommended to reinstall the application, selecting a path containing only Latin characters (for example, C:\Program Files\Program_Name).
You can also reinstall the program to a new path.
- Uninstall the current application via Control Panel → Programs and Features.
- Download the application installation file (if necessary) and start the installation.
- When selecting the installation path, specify a folder with a name containing only Latin characters.
Scan with antivirus and add to exclusion list
Viruses and malware can damage application files, causing startup errors. Antivirus programs can also mistakenly block some applications from running, mistaking them for a threat.
- Launch the antivirus software installed on your computer.
- Perform a full system scan for viruses and malware.
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- If your antivirus detects threats, follow the instructions to eliminate them.
After the scan is complete, if the problem is not solved, make sure that the antivirus software is not blocking the program. The program’s executable file can also be added to the exclusion list. This usually works with video games and programs downloaded from third-party resources.
- Open your antivirus program settings.
- Find the “Exclusions” or “Excluded files/folders” section.
- Add the application’s executable file (.exe) and/or the folder where it is installed to the antivirus exclusion list
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- Save the changes and try running the program again.
Checking system files
Problems with system files can be the cause of the 0xc0000142 error. Corrupted or missing files can prevent applications from working properly. Windows has a built-in utility that checks the integrity of system files and restores them if necessary.
- Open Command Prompt with administrator rights. Press Win + S and type “cmd” or “Command Prompt”. Right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
- In the command line, type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow . This command will initiate a check of all system files. If corrupted files are found, the system will try to repair them.
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- Wait for the process to complete. This may take some time.
Once the scan is complete, restart your computer and try running the application again.
If the SFC utility finds corrupted files but cannot repair them, you can use the DISM (Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool) command to perform an additional check.
- In the same command line, run the following command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth . This command checks and restores the integrity of the Windows system image.
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- After the process is complete, run the sfc /scannow command again to check.
Run in compatibility mode
Some applications, especially older ones, may not be compatible with newer versions of Windows. In such cases, running in compatibility mode can help avoid the 0xc0000142 error.
- Locate the program executable file (file with the .exe extension) that is causing the error.
- Right click on this file and select Properties.
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- Check the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for”.
- From the drop-down list, select the version of Windows that you think the application will work most stably with (for example, Windows 7, 8, or XP)
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- If the program has display problems, you can also enable the “Disable image scaling on high DPI” option.
- Click OK to save the settings.
- Try running the program again.
Update the C++ and .NET Framework libraries
Many applications depend on Microsoft Visual C++ and .NET Framework libraries. If these libraries are out of date or corrupted, this can lead to errors when starting applications, including the 0xc0000142 error.
Visual C++ Redistributable Update
- Go to the official Microsoft website and find the latest versions of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for your version of Windows.
- Download and install all available versions (usually 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015-2019, 2022) for 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) systems.
- After the installation is complete, restart your computer.
Updating .NET Framework
- Go to the official Microsoft website and download the latest version of .NET Framework.
- Install it on your computer by following the installer instructions.
- After the installation is complete, restart your computer.