# Fix: ‘Bad Image error 0xc000012f’ issue In Windows 11/10

**URL:** https://www.compsmag.com/blogs/bad-image-error-0xc000012f/
**Author:** Ayushi Chauhan
**Published:** 2023-03-04
**Updated:** 2023-03-04
**Categories:** Blogs
**Reading Time:** 7 min

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'Bad Image error 0xc000012f' in [Windows 11](https://compsmag.com/reviews/windows-11-review/)/10, which means that either the program's executable or one of the modules that support it is broken. Status Invalid image not MZ is what 0xc000012f means, which is that the image file is not in the right format.

This error can happen when you try to run Microsoft Office tools like Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams, as well as other programmes like Origin, Steam, and AVG Antivirus. Error 0xc000012f happens most often when Origin and Steam games are launched.

## (Solved) ‘Error 0xc000012f in Windows 10 PC’ Issue

!['Bad Image error 0xc000012f' ](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/12-127.jpg)

### Update Visual Studio C++ Redistributable

This Bad Image Error [code](https://compsmag.com/best/coding-apps/)may show up if your computer doesn't have the Visual Studio C++ files that some software packages need. Several users tried to fix the problem by installing or updating the Visual Studio C++ Redistributable files. Luckily, it worked. So, you could do the same. Here's what you have to do to make changes:

- [Navigate](https://compsmag.com/best/navigation-apps/)to Microsoft’s official website and head towards the Visual Studio C++ Redistributable **Download Page.**
- Find and click the link for Visual Studio 2015-2022 package X64 (64-bit Windows Platform).
- Check out the folder containing the downloaded Visual Studio C++ Redistributable package in File Explorer.
- At this point, you need to double-click the **file VC_redist.x64.exe**and you can see the Microsoft Visual C++ window.
- Click the “I agree” checkbox to accept the **Terms**& **Conditions**. Click on the Install button to update the Visual Studio C++.

### Re-Register The DLL Files

- Go to the Search bar and type Command Prompt. Make sure you run as administrator to launch the CMD utility in elevated mode.
- Copy and paste the command – **for %1 in (*.dll) do regsvr32 /s %1 **and hit the Enter button.

### Reinstall the program

If none of the steps worked for you, try uninstalling and reinstalling the program using which you are facing the problem. This has worked for most users and we hope it works for you too and Bad Image error is gone forever. Before following the steps ensure you have the setup file handy.

- Press Windows + R
- Type appwiz.cpl > Ok
- Look for the program that is throwing Bad **Image error, select it > Uninstall**
- Wait for the operation to finish
- Now use the setup [file](https://compsmag.com/best/file-manager/)to reinstall the product. Alternatively, you can visit the product’s official website for the latest setup file.

### Uninstall Windows Update

A Bad Image error on Windows 10 can also be caused by a faulty or broken [Windows](https://compsmag.com/best/windows-apps/) update. So, if you have a 0xc000012f error after installing the Windows update on Windows 10, you should uninstall it. Follow these steps to learn how to do that:

- In the Windows search bar type Add or **remove** programs
- Open it > click Program and Features option
- Here in the left pane **click** View installed updates
- This will open a new window here, look for the latest Windows update you installed after which the Bad Image error started occurring. **Select it > Uninstall**
-  Afterward, **restart** the system and see if this helps fix Windows Bad image 0xc00007b error.

### Restore Windows to a Previous Restore Point

- Open System Restore by pressing **Win** + **R**, inputting** rstrui**, and clicking** OK**.
- Select **Choose a different restore point **to view all your restoration options
- Press System Restore’s **Next **button.
- Select the oldest restore point available, which is the most likely one to predate the 0xc000012f error
- Then click **Next **again to reach the final confirmation step.
- Press** Finish **to perform the system restoration.

### Reinstall the Affected Software

If the affected software is reinstalled, the files and registry entries for it will be replaced. For software that takes a long time to download, that might not be the best solution. But it's likely that the 0xc000012f error can be fixed by reinstalling the software.

Error 0xc000012f can be fixed by using Programs and Features (Control Panel) or Apps & features (Settings), as we explain in our guide to uninstalling Windows software. If it's a UWP app, you might need to use Apps & Features to remove it. You could also use a tool from a third party to remove the software.

### Perform System Restore

- By default, System Restore is **disabled** on Windows 10 however, if you have enabled it, you are lucky. You can rollback the changes via System Restore
- To learn in detail about System Restore and how to run it, read our previous post.
- Press**Windows + R**
- Type**rstrui.exe > Enter**
- Select the System Restore point of the date when the system was working just fine and **rollback**

### Run the DirectX End-User Web Installer

On a user's PC, the Bad Image error 0xc000012f can also be caused by missing DirectX End-User runtime components (libraries). You can fix this by running the DirectX End-User Web Installer, which installs legacy DirectX SDK runtime libraries. To run the DirectX End-User Web Installer, do the following:

- Navigate to the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer page.
- Click **Download** on that webpage to get the dxwebsetup.exe file.
- Open your browser’s downloads folder in Explorer, and double-click the dxwebsetup.exe file.
- Select the DirectX setup wizard’s **I accept radio** button and click** Next **to proceed.
- Uncheck the **Install the Bing Bar **checkbox if you don’t want that software.
- Press **Next **to install **DirectX** components
- Click **Finish **at the end of the setup wizard.

### Select the "Repair" Option for Microsoft Office

- Bring up the Programs and Feature applet (our guide to opening the Windows uninstaller includes numerous methods).
- Select your MS Office suite in Programs and Features.
- Click the **Change** option for the selected MS Office suite.
- Choose the more thorough **Online Repair** option.
- Select** Repair **to fix the suite.

If you know more details about this, than you can check on [Microsoft Support center](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us).

- **Bad image file.** This error usually occurs when the image file is in the wrong format, which is particularly common in programs that rely on Microsoft Visual C++. Error 0xc000012f usually occurs because a system doesn’t have Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable files, which are prerequisites of the programs.
- **Corrupted files.** Corrupted, missing, or incompatible DLL files or executables can also trigger this error. **Re-registering DLL files** may fix this error.
- **DLL mismatch.** The Visual C++ Redistributable runtime libraries version or bitness may be mismatched.
- **Malware on the system**. In rare cases, this error starts occurring if the computer has been infected will malware. Therefore, consider scanning it with an antimalware program. We invite you to scan your system with **Combo Cleaner**.

## FAQ

1. Reinstall the program that can't be opened.
2. Uninstall the problematic Windows update.
3. Run a System File Checker to check corrupted system file.
4. Run Windows Automatic Repair.
5. Perform a System Restore.

#### What is Citrix error 0xc000012f

How are you? Error 0xc000012f means that you don't have the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable files, which are needed by other programmes like Microsoft Office. Windows searches our database and adds these files automatically during an update so you can run programmes that need scripting. May 21, 2018

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