How to Fix Msvcr100.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

If installing a Microsoft Visual C++ update doesn't fix the error, reinstall the program that needs this DLL file

Msvcr100.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the msvcr100 DLL file. In some cases, the errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

The msvcr100.dll error message could apply to any program or system that might utilize the file on any of Microsoft's operating systems, including Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

Msvcr100.dll Errors

msvcr100 dll error message on Windows 11 desktop

There are several ways msvcr100.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common errors you might see:

  • Msvcr100.dll Not Found
  • The program can't start because MSVCR100.dll is missing from your computer.
  • This application failed to start because msvcr100.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
  • Cannot find [PATH]\msvcr100.dll
  • The file msvcr100.dll is missing.
  • Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: msvcr100.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again.

These error messages might appear while using or installing certain programs, when Windows starts or shuts down, or maybe even during a Windows installation.

The context of the error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem.

Do not download msvcr100.dll from a "DLL download" website. There are many reasons why downloading a DLL file like that is a bad idea. If you need a copy of this file, it's best to obtain it from its original, legitimate source.

How to Fix Msvcr100.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below to try the simpler solutions first.

Start Windows in Safe Mode to complete any of these steps if you're unable to access Windows normally due to the error.

  1. Download the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update and run it. This will replace/restore the msvcr100.dll with the most recent copy provided by Microsoft.

    There are a few download options from Microsoft for this update, based on the version of Windows you have installed—x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit). Check out our advice on how to determine if you're running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows if you're not sure what to choose.

    Some users have had to also install Microsoft Build Tools 2015 to fix the error. Applying these updates is almost always the solution to msvcr100.dll errors, so try your best to complete this step.

  2. Restore msvcr100.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" msvcr100.dll file is that you've mistakenly deleted it.

    If you suspect that you've accidentally deleted it but you've already emptied the Recycle Bin, you might be able to recover the file with a free file recovery program.

    Undeleting msvcr100.dll is a smart idea only if you're confident you've deleted the file yourself and that it was working properly before you did that.

  3. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some msvcr100.dll errors could be related to a virus or other malware infection on your computer that has damaged the DLL file.

    It's even possible the error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

  4. Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If you suspect the error was caused by a change made to an important file or configuration, System Restore could solve the problem.

  5. Reinstall the program producing the msvcr100.dll error. If the error message occurs when you use a particular program, reinstalling that program might help.

  6. Copy the msvcr100.dll file from the \System32\ folder and paste it into the \SysWOW64\ folder. This works if you already have the DLL file in the 32-bit folder (System32) but are having troubles with 64-bit programs accessing it.

    The full paths of these folders are C:\Windows\System32 and C:\Windows\SysWOW64\. Just right-click and copy the DLL file from the first folder, and then paste it into the second.

  7. Install any available Windows updates. Many service packs and other patches replace or update some of the hundreds of Microsoft distributed DLL files on your computer. This DLL file could be included in one of those updates.

  8. Test your memory and then test your hard drive. We've left the majority of hardware troubleshooting to the last step, but your computer's memory and hard drive are easy to test and are the most likely components that might cause msvcr100.dll errors as they fail.

    If the hardware fails any of your tests, replace the memory or replace the hard drive as soon as possible.

  9. Repair your installation of Windows. If the individual troubleshooting advice above is unsuccessful, performing a startup repair or repair installation should restore all Windows DLL files to their working versions.

  10. Use a free registry cleaner to repair DLL related issues in the registry. A free registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid registry entries that might be causing the error.

    We rarely recommend the use of registry cleaners. We've included the option here as a "last resort" attempt before the destructive step coming up next.

  11. Perform a clean installation of Windows. This will erase everything from the hard drive and install a fresh copy of Windows. If none of the steps above correct the error, this should be your last course of action.

    All the information on your hard drive will be erased during a clean install. Make sure you've made the best attempt possible to fix the error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

  12. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any msvcr100.dll errors persist. After a clean install of Windows, your DLL problem can only be hardware related.

Need More Help?

If you're not interested in fixing this problem yourself, even with help, see How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? for a full list of your support options, plus help with everything along the way like figuring out repair costs, getting your files off, choosing a repair service, and a lot more.

FAQ
  • What does the msvcr100.dll file do?

    The msvcr100.dll file is tied to Visual C++ and is needed in order to run any software that was made using Microsoft's code compiler.

  • What should I do if a specific program requires msvcr100.dll and reinstallation doesn't work?

    Some games and applications may need to have a copy of msvcr100.dll in their own software directories. If reinstalling the program doesn't fix the issue, make note of the directory noted in the error message and copy msvcr100.dll from C:\Windows\System32 or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ into the necessary software folder.

Was this page helpful?