How To Fix “Application Failed To Initialize 0xc0000142” Error

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0xc0000142 Error

The 0xc0000142 error is a highly annoying and common error which affects a variety of core Windows applications. Typically seen in Windows Vista, it has also been recorded as showing in XP and Windows 7. The error normally says something similar to “<<Application>> failed to initialize properly (0xc0000142)”.

This error is either shown on a blue screen (the “blue screen of death”) or as a standard Windows error alert. You should be able to fix the error using this tutorial.

What Is The 0xc0000142 Error?

0xc0000142 is an error caused by a malfunction or a corruption with the program you’re trying to use. Many people report seeing this error when trying to run “cmd.exe“, which is the DOS emulator program for your computer. Although this error does not specify the actual problem with the system or application in question, you can fix it using a standard method.

The most typical reason why the 0xc0000142 error appears is down to corrupt or damaged files which the various applications you need use. These files are required for use by your computer and if they are damaged in any way, they’ll make your computer extremely unreliable and cause errors such as the 0xc0000142 error.

How To Fix The 0xc0000142 Error

Step 1 – Clean Out The Registry

– Download This Registry Cleaner

One of the big causes of the 0xc0000142 error is to have a corrupted registry. The registry is a big database which Windows uses to store all the settings and information for your computer. Everything from your latest emails, desktop wallpaper and even your stored passwords are kept inside this database, making it one of the most important parts of your system. There are also many “file path references” kept inside there as well, which allow your system to read many of the common files that it needs to run. It’s often the cause that a lot of these settings and references become damaged and corrupted with time, leading your computer to run with errors as a result. You should try using a registry cleaner to fix any of the errors that are inside the registry database because it’s likely that one or more of them could be causing the problems on your PC.

Step 2 – Perform A Malware Scan

– Download This Antivirus & AntiSpyware Scanner

Viruses and spyware often infect Windows, and the result can be that programs are unable to function properly & errors are shown. To make sure this is not a problem on your computer, you should download an antivirus or antispyware program onto your PC and then perform a deep scan with it. It will search through your computer and remove any of the infections which could potentially be causing a lot of problems.

Step 3 – Reinstall Affected (Non Critical) Applications

If you’re seeing the 0xc0000142 error from programs that you installed yourself (I.E programs that are not critical to Windows), then you should try reinstalling those programs. To do this, click Start > Control Panel > Add / Remove Programs and then uninstall the program that’s causing the problems. You should then restart your PC and install a fresh copy of the program and see if the error disappears. This will basically replace all the program files and settings on your computer and will allow your program to run as intended. It’s often the case that applications have files that are damaged and corrupted, which make them slow down and have errors such as the 0xc0000142 error. Step 3 is not recommended if you’re seeing errors caused by the likes of cmd.exe

Step 4 – Repair Windows

– Tutorial For Win7

If you’re still seeing the error even after the previous steps, then you should look to “repair” Windows. This is the process whereby Windows does not lose any of your data or information… but instead, will replace any of the program files or settings on your PC with fresh new ones. This should stop the error from occurring in the future, as it will allow the programs you want to run to be able to use the files they need, making them run smoothly and effectively.