Fix: Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library Error In Windows 10

Some Windows 10 users and a few Windows 8 users have reported an error involving Microsoft Visual C ++ Runtime Library. When Windows Explorer is opened, a runtime error occured randomly. This issue is caused by a faulty Visual C++ Runtime Library or certain applications which use the Runtime. To fix this issue, we’ll reinstall Visual C++ Runtime, run Windows updates, root out the culprit applications.

This issue is also carried over to Windows 10 Creators Update and many users are also getting the runtime errors on the Creators Update edition of Windows 10.

Repair Corrupt System Files

Download and run Restoro to scan for corrupt files from here, if files are found to be corrupt and missing repair them and then check if it fixes the issue, if not then proceed with Solutions listed below.

Method 1: Update Display Driver

  1. Hold the Windows Key and Press X and go to Device Manager.
  2. Locate Display Adapters and Right Click your Display Adapter.
  3. Choose Update Driver
  4. Choose Search Automatically for Updated Driver, if it says that the Best Drivers for your device are already installed then choose the second option Search for updated drivers on Windows Update  and click check for updates, if the updates finds new drivers install them else move to Method 2.

Method 2: Rollback / Reinstall Display Driver

This method has worked for a number of people, since Runtime is needed by many other applications and Windows is heavily dependent on it and if it is only causing errors with one or two apps, then it is most likely an incompatiability issue. In this case, i would suggest Rolling Back to the previous version of Display Adapter and if no previous versions are available, then reinstalling an older version from last year to test. You also need to make sure to Stop Windows from automatically updating drivers if this Method works.

Note: If you rollback the driver, then Windows will not reinstall it. If you Reinstall the driver, Windows Update can reinstall it when it finds a newer verison of the Driver through Windows Update in which case, refer to “https://appuals.com/stop-windows-automatically-installing-outdated-drivers/“.

  1. Hold the Windows Key and Press X
  2. Choose Device Manager. Right Click your Display Adapter and Choose the Driver Tab.
  3. Click Roll Back, test after each roll back to see which version works for you.
  4. If none works, then Reinstall the Display Adapter from the Manufacturer’s site and disable updates from installing the driver automatically. ^see link above. If the Method 1, and Method 2 troubleshooting fails you can try reinstalling the V C++ Runtime libraries.

Method 3: Reinstalling Visual C++ Runtime

  1. Press the Windows Key + R,  appwiz.cpl and then press Enter.
  2. Locate the Microsoft Visual C++ programs in the list.
  3. Select each entry and then click Uninstall.
  4. Download a fresh copy of Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime from here and then install it.

Method 4: Repairing Visual C++ Runtime

  1. Press the Windows Key + R,  appwiz.cpl and then press Enter.
  2. Browse through the list and uninstall all Microsoft Visual C++ Runtimes except 2010 and 2012.
  3. Locate Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime 2012 in the list of installed applications.
  4. Select this entry and then click Uninstall/Repair and it will show options to Repair, Uninstall or Cancel.
  5. Click on Repair and allow the process to complete. You’ll be asked to restart your PC. After you restart your PC your problem will be solved.

Method 5: Uninstalling Applications

Certain applications have been reported to cause Visual C++ to crash Explorer. Uninstalling these applications will resolve the issue. You can reinstall these applications later to see if the situation changes.

  1. Press the Windows Key + R,  cpl and then press Enter.
  2. Try uninstall the following applications which were recorded to have caused issues. Else, try removing the applications you recently installed.
    • Visual Studio 2013
    • AutoCAD
    • Bing Desktop
  3. Reboot your PC and confirm if the issue has been fixed.

Method 6: Performing Clean Boot

In a “Clean” Boot only necessary services and applications are loaded. It prevents all third-party applications from loading at startup therefore if there was any conflict between an application and “Visual C++” software it should be fixed. In order to initiate a “Clean” boot:

  1. Log in to the computer with an Administrator account.

  2. Press “Windows” + “R” to open up the “RUN” prompt.

  3. Type in “msconfig” and press “Enter“.

  4. Click on the “Services” option and uncheck the “Hide all Microsoft Services” button.

  5. Click on the “Disable All” option and then on “OK“.

  6. Click on the “Startup” tab and click on the “Open Task Manager” option.

  7. Click on the “Startup” button in the task manager.

  8. Click on any application in the list that has “Enabled” written next to it and select the “Disable” option.

  9. Repeat this process for all applications in the list and restart your computer.

  10. Now your computer has been booted in the “Clean Boot” state.

  11. Check to see if the issue goes away.
  12. If the error is no longer encountered it means that a third party application or service was causing it.
  13. Start by enabling one service at a time in the same manner and stop when the error comes back.
  14. Reinstall the service/application by enabling which the error comes back or keep it disabled.

Method 7: Un-Installing Intel True Key

It was reported that sometimes Intel’s True Key software can interfere with important elements of the operating system and cause this issue. Therefore, in this step, we will be uninstalling it completely from the PC. For that:

  1. Press the “Windows” + “I” buttons simultaneously.
  2. Click on the “Apps” option.
  3. Scroll down and click on the “Intel True Key” option in the list.
  4. Select the “uninstall” button and click on “yes” in the warning prompt.
  5. Wait for the software to be uninstalled and check to see if the issue persists.

Method 8: Fully removing VC Runtimes and reinstalling them

This method will show you how to remove VC++ Runtimes properly and then reinstalling them. This will fix any issue you are having with VC runtimes. Follow these steps:-

  1. Press and hold the Windows key then press the “R” key to open the Run program.
  2. Once you open the run program type “Appwiz.cpl” and press enter.
  3. This should open the Windows uninstaller.
  4. Now find all the VC++ Redists and uninstall them one by one.

Once you uninstall all the VC Runtimes use this command to clean up your WinSxS Component store.

  1. Press and hold the Windows key then press the “X” key to open the Start Menu.
  2. Now click “PowerShell (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)”
  3. Type this command in the Command Prompt and press enter.
Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
  1. Wait for the process to finish and after that restart your computer.
  2. After restarting your computer head over to this link (here) and download the file.
  3. Once the file is downloaded you will have to unzip the file.
  4. After unzipping the file you will have the Installers.
  5. Right-click on the file named “install_all.bat” and click “Run as administrator”.
  6. Now, wait for all the VC Runtimes to install (this process is automated).
  7. Restart your computer and check to see if the issue persists.

Method 9: Running Diagnostics

  1. End the current Windows Explorer processes by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc and then selecting the Process tab.
  2. Search for Windows Explorer(explorer.exe) from the running applications, right-click on it and click End task.
  3. Press the Windows Key + R and type MdSched and click OK.
  4. Select Restart now and check for problems.
  5. Follow the wizard to check for and solve any memory issues.