How to Fix Msvcrt10.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

Msvcrt10.dll errors are caused by situations that lead to the removal or corruption of the msvcrt10 DLL file.

How to Fix Msvcrt10.dll Errors

Follow these steps in the order they're given below, which starts off with the easier and more relevant solutions first.

1. Restore msvcrt10.dll from the Recycle Bin. The easiest possible cause of a "missing" msvcrt10.dll file is that you've mistakenly deleted it.

   If you suspect this, but you've already emptied the Recycle Bin, you may be able to recover the file with a free file recovery program.

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

2. Download and install Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4 from Microsoft. This should copy msvcrt10.dll to your computer or replace any corrupt versions of the file.

   There are a few download options from Microsoft. Pick the x86 version if you're running a 32-bit version of Windows. If you're not sure, see How to Tell if You Have Windows 64-Bit or 32-Bit.

3. Reinstall the program that uses the msvcrt10.dll file. If the msvcrt10 DLL error persists after installing the redistributable above, and you see the error when using a particular program, reinstalling that program should replace the file.

4. Run a virus/malware scan of your entire system. Some msvcrt10.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 that the error you're seeing is related to a hostile program that's masquerading as the file.

5. Use System Restore to undo recent system changes. If you suspect that the msvcrt10.dll error was caused by a change made to an important file or configuration, System Restore could solve the problem.

6. Update the drivers for hardware devices that might be related to msvcrt10.dll. If, for example, you're receiving a "The file msvcrt10.dll is missing" error when you play a 3D video game, try updating the drivers for your video card.
   

   The msvcrt10.dll file may or may not be related to video cards—this was just an example. The key here is to pay very close attention to the context of the error and troubleshoot accordingly.

7. Roll back a driver to a previously installed version if msvcrt10.dll errors began after updating a particular hardware device's driver.

8. Run the sfc/scannow System File Checker command to replace a missing or corrupt copy of the msvcrt10.dll file. If this DLL file is provided by Microsoft, the System File Checker tool should restore it.

9. 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. The msvcrt10.dll file could be included in one of those updates.

10. 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 msvcrt10.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.

11. 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.

12. Use a free registry cleaner to repair msvcrt10.dll related issues in the registry. A free registry cleaner program may be able to help by removing invalid msvcrt10.dll registry entries that might be causing the DLL error.

    Rarely do we recommend using a registry cleaners to fix a computer issue. See our Registry Cleaners FAQ for more on why they're used in some situations.

13. 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 next course of action.

    All the information on your hard drive will be erased during this step. Make sure you've made the best attempt possible to fix the msvcrt10.dll error using a troubleshooting step prior to this one.

14. Troubleshoot for a hardware problem if any msvcrt10.dll errors persist. After a clean Windows installation, your DLL problem can only be hardware related.

Causes of Msvcrt10.dll Errors

In some cases, msvcrt10.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

There are several ways msvcrt10.dll errors can show up on your computer. Below are some of the more common error messages you might see.

• Msvcrt10.dll Not Found
• This application failed to start because msvcrt10.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem
• Cannot find [PATH]\msvcrt10.dll
• The file msvcrt10.dll is missing
• Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: msvcrt10.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.