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Fix 0xc0000142 Application Was Unable to Start Correctly

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Users have reported facing an application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142) error when they try to run a program on their PC. The complete error message may read as-

โ€˜The application is unable to start correctly (0xc0000142). Click OK to close the application.โ€™.

The message most commonly occurs because of missing DLL files. If the DLL files are deleted by mistake or go missing, then you may get the application was unable to start correctly 0xc0000142 error. Thereโ€™s nothing to worry about if you are facing this error as it is easy to fix.

Fix Application Error 0xc0000142 in Windows

In this article, we will be discussing how you can fix The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000142) error on your Windows PC.

Fix 0xc0000142 Application Was Unable To Start Correctly

Run The Program In Compatibility Mode

The very first thing to do is to run the program in compatibility mode. Many users have reported that going by this solution has helped them out and fixed the issue for them. To run the program in compatibility mode, follow the steps given below-

  • On your desktop, right-click on the application with which you are facing the error.
  • Now from the context menu that opens up, click onย Properties.ย 

Fix: The Application Was Unable To Start Correctly (0xc0000142)

  • In theย Propertiesย window, head to theย Compatibilityย tab.
  • Here, click on theย Run Compatibility Troubleshooterย button and then onย Try Recommended Settings.ย 
  • Next, click onย Test the programย and wait for the process to complete.
  • Once done, click onย Yes, and save the settings for this program.ย 
  • Now, check the checkbox forย Run this program compatibility mode for, and then from the drop-down menu selectย Windows 7.

Fix: The Application Was Unable To Start Correctly (0xc0000142)

  • After doing so, check the checkbox forย Run this program as an administrator.ย Now, click onย Applyย and then click onย OK.ย 

Run SFC And DISM Scan

You are likely to face this error due to corrupted or missing DLL files. By running SFC and DISM scan, you will be able to fix the issue. Firstly, you should run the SFC scan and then the DISM scan. To run an SFC scan, follow the steps given below-

  • Open theย Start Menuย on your keyboard by pressing theย Windowsย key.
  • In theย Start Menu,ย search forย CMD.ย Right-click onย Command Promptย from the search result and then click onย Run as administrator.ย 
  • In theย Command Prompt, typeย sfc /scannowย and hitย Enterย to execute the command.

Fix: The Application Was Unable To Start Correctly (0xc0000142)

  • Wait for the process to complete and then restart your PC.

This should most probably fix the issue. If the SFC scan didnโ€™t fix the issue, then you should try running the DISM. To run DISM, follow the steps given below-

  • Run theย Command Promptย with administrative privileges. You can do so by following the above steps.
  • Now in theย Command Prompt,ย type and execute the commandย DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.

Fix: The Application Was Unable To Start Correctly (0xc0000142)

  • The process will start after you execute the command. After the process is completed, restart your PC and the issue should be fixed.

Update Windows

You may also face the issue if you are on an outdated version of Windows. You should try updating the Windows to fix the issue you have been facing. To update Windows, follow the steps given below-

  • Press theย Windowsย key on your keyboard to open theย Start Menu.ย 
  • In theย Start Menu, search forย Check for updatesย and hitย Enter.ย 
  • On the next window that opens up, click onย Check for updates.

Windows Update

  • Now download and install all the updates you find and then restart your PC to save the changes.

Making Changes To The Registry

Another thing to troubleshoot The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000142) error on your PC is by making changes to the Registry. To do so, follow the steps given below-

  • Press theย Windows + Xย key combo, and then from the menu that opens up click onย Windows Admin (Terminal).
  • In theย Windows Terminal, type and execute the commandย reg add โ€œHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windowsโ€ /v โ€œLoadAppInit_DLLsโ€ /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
  • After executing the command, restart your PC to make changes to the Registry.

End Process In Task Manager

You should try ending the task and all the related processes in the Task Manager and then try running the program again.

  • Pressย Ctrl + Shift + Escย key combo to open theย Task Managerย on your PC.
  • Head to theย Processesย tab in theย Task Manager.ย 
  • In theย Processesย tab, select the program you are facing the issue with. Click on the program, and then click onย End Task.ย 

End Task

  • Do the same for all the related tasks to the program you are trying to run.
  • Now restart the app, and the issue should be fixed by now.

Configuring Command Prompt Settings

Now the very next step is to change the Command Prompt configurations. If the settings of the Command Prompt are not configured properly then you are likely to face the issue. To configure the command prompt settings, follow the steps given below-

  • Press theย Windowsย key on your keyboard to open theย Start Menu.ย 
  • In theย Start Menu,ย search forย Command Promptย and hitย Enterย to open theย Command Prompt.
  • In theย Command Prompt, execute the commandย for %i in (%windir%\system32\*.ocx) do regsvr32.exe /s %i
  • After the process is completed, restart your PC and the issue should be fixed.

Changing The System Locale

Another thing to do is to change the System Locale. If the correct region is not selected then you may face this error on your PC. to change the System Locale, follow the steps given below-

  • Press theย Windowsย key on your keyboard to open theย Start Menu.ย 
  • In theย Start Menu, search forย Control Panelย and hitย Enterย to open theย Control Panel.ย 
  • In theย Control Panel,ย search forย Regionsย and click on it.
  • Head to theย Administrativeย tab in theย Control Panel.

Change System Locale

  • Here, click onย Change System Locale,ย and then from the drop-down menu, select the correct region. Next, click onย OKย to change the System Locale.

Manually Download The DLL File

As we have discussed, you may face the issue due to missing DLL files. If that is the case, then you should manually download the DLL file. To do so, follow the steps given below-

  • Firstly, download the DLL files from thisย link.
  • After you have downloaded the file, copy it.
  • Now head to the folder where you have installed the application and paste the files.
  • When asked to replace the files, replace them.
  • After you are done, restart the application and the issue should be fixed.

Clean Boot Windows

If none of the above steps fixed the issue for you, then you should clean boot Windows. To do so, follow the steps given below-

  • Open theย Start Menuย by pressing theย Windowsย key on your keyboard.
  • In theย Start Menu,ย search forย System Configurationย and hitย Enter.ย 
  • In theย System Configurationย window, head to theย Servicesย tab.
  • Here, check the checkbox forย Hide all Microsoft servicesย and then click onย Disable all.

System Configuration

  • Now, head to theย Startupย tab, and click onย Open Task Manager.ย 
  • After doing so, select the application with high startup impact, and click onย Disable.ย Do the same for all the applications with high startup impact.

Disable Startup Apps

  • Now restart your PC and run the application again.

Conclusion

These are all the ways to fix The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000142). If you have been facing this error on your Windows PC, then you should try following the troubleshooting steps mentioned in this article and the issue should be fixed.

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Anurag Jain
Anurag Jainhttps://itechhacks.com
Anurag is a Senior content analyst with 4 years of experience in the industry. Based in India, He is extremely skilled at Windows related to How to Troubleshooting matters. His favorite topics are Windows 11, Android, and How To's.

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