November 11, 2026

Windows 10 Application Error 0xc0000142: Fixing Programs That Fail the Moment They Start

You double-click a program, and almost instantly a box appears: “The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142). Click OK to close the application.” It may happen with one game, an Office app, or even Command Prompt. When Windows 10 application error 0xc0000142 appears, the program is failing during its very first moments, before any window opens.

This code means a DLL, one of the shared code libraries every program loads, failed to initialise. That can happen because a required file is damaged, a runtime package is missing or broken, or something on the PC interferes with how programs start.

It often appears after an update, after installing security or slot88 overlay software, or when a program’s own files are incomplete.

Because the cause is a start-up failure rather than a specific file, a few general repairs fix most cases.

Possible Causes

Error 0xc0000142 appears for these reasons:

• Visual C++ or .NET runtime packages are damaged.
• The program’s own files are corrupted or incomplete.
• Third-party software, such as overlays or security tools, injects into new programs.
• System files are damaged after an interrupted update.

If many programs fail with the same code, a system-wide cause is more likely than a single bad program.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Start with simple repairs.

1. Restart the PC and try the program again.
2. Right-click the program and choose Run as administrator.
3. Reinstall the program, downloading a fresh installer from the official website.
4. Open Settings > Apps, find each “Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable” entry, choose Modify, and select Repair.
5. Install pending Windows updates.

If the program is an older one, right-click its shortcut, choose Properties > Compatibility, and try running it in compatibility mode for Windows 7 or 8.

Advanced Steps for Stubborn Cases

Look for conflicts and damaged files.

1. Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth from an administrator Command Prompt.
2. Perform a clean boot: open msconfig, hide all Microsoft services, disable the rest, and restart.
3. If the program starts after a clean boot, re-enable services in groups to find the conflict.
4. Temporarily remove overlay or screen recording software and test again.
5. Use System Restore to return to a point before the error began.

For a game, also verify its files through the launcher’s repair option.

Before You Go Further: Keep Your Files Safe

Undo the clean boot after testing so security software runs again. Avoid “registry fixers” that claim to repair startup errors, as they can make things worse.

Conclusion

Error 0xc0000142 means a program failed to load its libraries at start-up. Reinstall the program, repair Visual C++ runtimes, fix system files, and use a clean boot to find conflicting software.