How To Fix Error Code 0xc000007b In Windows 7, 10

Microsoft Windows is by far the most popular operating system. Both Windows 7 and 10 were revolutionary in their design and features, but that doesn’t mean they have no faults. This article dives into the all too common Error Code 0xc000007b, which will appear when you are trying to open an application that isn’t working. This can be irritating to users if they are trying to use an application for work, school, or just plain entertainment. The odds are that this issue won’t fix itself, so you’ll need to know various steps so you can try to fix this problem yourself.

Unlike Error Code 0x80004005, this error is fairly specified. The message will read: The application was unable to start correctly. However, just because it is a specific error, doesn’t mean you will know right away what is causing it to happen. It may seem to you that this error is just coming out of the blue for no reason, but in computers, there is no randomness. There is a specific reason for everything, which means you can fix this issue.

This error specifically has to do with applications, and there could be a variety of factors that are preventing the application from opening. I’ll start off with trying my best to explain the possibilities of what could be causing the error, and then I will dive into measures you should take to try and fix it.

Also Read: DirectX Encountered An Unrecoverable Error

What Causes this Error

As already discussed, this code will be displayed when you are unable to open an application. But, what exactly is causing it? Well, it usually means that you are trying to run a program that is intended to work with a 64-bit Windows operating system, but you only have a 32-bit system. Don’t be confused by the bit term if you are unfamiliar, it is just a unit of data for computers.

There are several other factors that may be causing this as well, like an error in the application from an update or that it wasn’t downloaded correctly from the Internet. The bottom line is that you won’t be able to tell exactly what is causing the error until you fix it. So, just plug along with the solutions below until you find on the fixes the issue.

Solutions

Remember that after you complete each step, close the application and open it again. If you still receive the error, move on to the next step. Eventually, one of these many solutions will successfully correct your error.

1. Reinstall the Application

I start off most of these lists with the easiest solution, and this is no different. Your first step for many errors, whether it be the Unkown Install Error for Google Play or the Nintendo Wii Error Codes, will be to restart or reinstall something related to the error.

As this has to do with running a specific application, your first step should be to uninstall the app and then install it again. How to do this step is a little bit different on Windows 7 & 10.

“In computers, we do all kinds of manual manipulations. We grab and drag icons. We click on and open windows. We pull down a screen. We stretch a screen. We scroll up and down.” – Louis B. Rosenberg

Windows 7

• Begin by clicking on the Windows icon in the bottom left-hand corner.
• A two column pop-up will open and on the right-hand side choose Control Panel.
• Underneath where it says Programs, select Uninstall a Program.
• It then lists all of the programs available. Select the correct one, and then click Uninstall.
• Finally, click Yes and then OK and your program is uninstalled.

Those steps are how to uninstall the program. Once that is completed, restart your computer and download the application however you did the first time.

Windows 10

• Begin at the Start screen, which can be accessed by pressing the Windows button on your keyboard.
• Tap and hold the application until a pop-up is displayed.
• Select the three dots in the lower right corner, which expands the window. Then click on Uninstall.

Just like with Windows 7, restart your computer and download the application however you did the first time.

2. Run as An Administrator

Many times, this error occurs as a result of the running process. When you select the run as administrator command, you are telling the operating system that your application is safe and you are doing something that requires the administrator privileges. There may be something on your computer that is blocking the opening of this program, and this step will override this if that is the case. For more in-depth information on exactly what this function does, read this article from the great blog Tom’s Hardware.

To do this on any Windows version, simply right-click on the application and select run as administrator. It then may ask you for a password if you use one to log on, but that is all you have to do.

3. Fix Compatibility between Application and System

Sometimes the application you are using is not compatible with your system due to some file or any other issue. It is most commonly caused by games. To fix this kind of issue all you have to do is to follow the steps explained below.

There are two steps to this process. First, you will want to run the program in Compatibility Mode. Once that is completed, you will Check Application Permission. Here is how to do both, which is the same process in both versions of Windows.

Run Application in Compatibility Mode

• From the Start menu, right-click on Applications ->Properties->Compatibility
• Check the box titled Run this program in compatibility mode for.
• In the drop-down menu that appears, select any version of Windows that is earlier than what you are using.
• Click Apply and then OK.

Check Application Permission

• Open the Application installation folder.
• Open C:\Program Files (x86)\Application Folder
• Right click Application->Properties->Security.
• Check the Full control box, as well as the Allow box.
• Click Apply, and then OK.

These two processes will make sure your program you are trying to open is compatible with whatever software version you are using.

4. Check Your Hard Disk

The hard disk is the main and largest storage device in your computer. Pretty important, right? This may be the most common cause of this error because errors on your hard disk, where most applications are stored, can greatly affect the performance of these programs. Here’s how to check this disk in both programs.

Windows 7

• Right click on the Start button, then select Open Windows Explorer.
• Click on Computer, and select the drive you want to check. (Usually Local Disk (C:))
• Right click on the drive, and then select Properties.
• From the tabs, navigate to the Tools tab
• Under the Error-checking category, click on Check Now.
• In the Check Disk window, check the Automatically fix file system errors box, and then click Start.
• Finally, restart your computer and it will automatically run the check.

After your computer restarts, it will show the results right away.

Windows 1o

You can do the same steps for Windows 10 and I already listed for Windows 7, but there’s an even quicker and more interesting way to go about it.

It involves using the Command Prompt, which can be opened in a variety of ways. For me, I just go to my apps or search it. No matter how you get there, once you get to the command line, type in chkdsk /f C: to run a disk check on your System Drive. To do it on any other drive, just replace the C with whatever letter denotes the drive, and it will run just as smoothly. That is the only step required, and your computer will start to run the check immediately.

Conclusion

Above are several great solutions on how to fix an application that won’t run. Unless there is an update to the program, this problem will persist until you fix it.  Sure, you may be able to contact the company and troubleshoot over the phone or live chat for an hour, but in the long run, these solutions will be much more efficient and effective. It may be annoying to go through all of these steps, but it will definitely pay off in the long run. Odds are, performing all of these solutions will take as much time as it took to read this entire article. The best part is, you could fix this error with the first or second solution.

As always, after performing these solutions, restart the application and/or computer, and test again. Giving your operating system time to reboot and refresh are crucial in fixing these errors.

If you have any additional questions regarding this error or Window’s errors or support in general, visit Microsoft’s answer community. There you can post questions and read to see if others have already posted similar ones. Usually, Microsoft support staff answer, but also just general people in the community who have knowledge from experience. I really like this, because it combines the best of a companies customer support in a forum like setting.

For another article of ours on a common error you may get on Windows, check out my article on how to Fix ERR_CONNECTION_RESET.

Is something in this article unanswered or do you have another great tip to share? Don’t be afraid to leave a comment below and let your knowledge be known.