FIX: The program can’t start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer
Written by Rimvydas Iliavicius on
How to Fix "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" Error in Windows 10
You may have encountered an error message stating, "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer". If so, read this article, which will show you how to fix this error.
The most common reason for the "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" error is that a system does not have the Visual C++ Redistributable patch installed (or the MSVCP100.dll file is missing), and programs cannot run. It could also mean that part of Visual C++ Redistributable was not installed properly or failed to install, or that "MSVCP100.dll" is missing or was corrupted.
This error can occur, not only when a particular DLL file is missing, corrupted, or damaged, but also when there are problems with the Windows Registry or hardware, or it could mean that a virus or malware infected your system.
Note that you are not advised to download the MSVCP100.dll file from unofficial sites - this could lead to more serious problems such as virus infections, malware, etc.
Video Showing How to Fix "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" Error:
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Check Your Recycle Bin
- Install or Reinstall the Microsoft Visual C ++ Redistributable Package
- Check for Windows Updates
- Reinstall the Program
- Run SFC Scan
- Scan Your System for Malware And Viruses
- Run System Restore
- Video Showing How to Fix "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" Error
Check the Recycle Bin
Firstly (the most obvious method), check the Recycle Bin. It is possible that the MSVCP100.dll is missing because it was simply deleted - you may find it in the Recycle Bin.
Open the Recycle Bin and look for the MSVCP100.dll file. If many files are present, type the filename in the Recycle Bin search box to locate it. Right-click on the file and select "Restore" from the context menu.
Install Or Reinstall The Microsoft Visual C ++ Redistributable Package
Visual C++ is a part of the general "C suite" of programming languages often used for many development projects. Visual C++ includes runtime packages and libraries for creating different compilations of function calls, procedures, and other code elements that work within integrated software environments. The MSVCP100.dll file belongs to the Visual C ++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2010.
You can download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2010 from the Microsoft web page here.
You will need to choose the download you require, the "vc_redist.x64.exe" or "vc_redist.x84.exe". Close all open applications before the install.
Ensure that you download the correct version of the Visual C++ Redistributable file. If you are unsure which one to download and install, find out whether you are using a 32-bit or 64-bit system by reading this article.
If this does not fix the error, uninstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2010 and install it again. Find it in the installed programs list, right-click it, select "Uninstall" or "Uninstall/Change", and choose to uninstall it.
Check For Windows Updates
Update your current version of Windows. Checking for updates for the entire Windows operating system might help. It is possible that a patch or a service pack provided by Windows Update might update or replace the missing MSVCP100.dll file.
To check for Windows Updates, go to Settings and select "Update & Security".
You should be automatically directed to the Windows Update section. Click "Check for updates". Windows will start checking for updates. If there are updates available, install them and try checking for updates again, just to ensure you have the latest updates on the operating system.
After the updates are installed (if there were any to install), see if you still receive the "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" error.
Reinstall The Program
If you receive the "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" error when trying to launch a particular program (or programs), it is possible that you will be able to fix this error by reinstalling the program (or programs).
To uninstall the problematic program from the computer, type "run" in Search and click the "Run" result. This will open the Run dialog box.
Type "appwiz.cpl" and press Enter on the keyboard - this will launch the "Programs and Features" window.
In the Programs and Features window, locate the program and uninstall it by right-clicking it and choosing "Uninstall" from the drop-down menu.
Download and install the program again and see if you receive the "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" error when trying to launch it.
Run SFC Scan
System File Checker (SFC) is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore them. This guide describes how to run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to scan your system files and repair missing or corrupted system files (including .DLL files).
To run it, first open Command Prompt first by typing "command prompt" in Search, right-click on "Command Prompt", and then select "Run as administrator" from the drop-down menu to run Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
You must run an elevated Command Prompt to be able to perform an SFC scan.
In the Command Prompt window, type "sfc /scannow" and press Enter on the keyboard to execute this command. System File Checker will start and take some time to complete.
Wait for the scanning process to complete and restart the computer to see if you still receive "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" error.
Scan Your System For Malware And Viruses
Malware and viruses can cause various issues on the system, including issues with the Microsoft Visual C ++ Redistributable package. Perform a full system scan and see if it detects any malware on your computer.
You can use Windows Defender (a built-in antivirus program) that protects your computer against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Alternatively, another third-party antivirus package if you have one installed.
To run a full system scan using Windows Defender, type "virus" in Search and click the "Virus & threat protection" result.
In the Virus & threat protection window, click "Advanced scan".
Select "Full scan" and click "Scan now". This will start scanning your system for malware. If there are any viruses found, delete them.
You can choose a virus and malware scanner from our Top anti-malware list. The list consists of well-known top spyware removers and will help you choose the right software for your computer's protection. Find the list by clicking this link.
Run System Restore
Finally, we recommend that you perform a System Restore using restore points. A restore point is a collection of important system files stored by System Restore on a given date and time.
To use this tool, you must have created restore points. With a created restore point, this feature will bring your system back to the previous working state, without affecting your files and data.
If you have any system restore points that were created before you started receiving the "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" error, you might be able to fix the problem by performing a System Restore.
To restore your system, launch Run. To start it, press the Windows Key + R and type "rstrui.exe". In the Run dialog box, press Enter or click "OK".
In the System Restore window, click "Next".
If there are restore points created, you will see a list of them. Mark the "Show more restore points" checkbox, which should display more restore points. Select the most appropriate restore point (depending on the time created, etc.) and click "Next".
Do not select a Restore Point at a time when the "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" error was already present.
Confirm the restore point. Your computer will be restored to the state before the event detailed in the "Description" field. If you are happy with your choice, click "Finish" and begin the system restore process.
We hope that this article helped you fix the "The program can't start because MSVCP100.dll is missing from your computer" error. If you know of other solutions to this error not mentioned in our guide, please share them with us by leaving a comment in the section below.
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