How To Fix Runtime Error 271
Runtime Error 271 is an error message which displays if an unknown application error occurred on your PC. This error is caused by a variety of issues on your computer and in order to fix it, you first need to know which problems cause the error and how to fix those problems.
What Are The Causes Of Runtime Error 271?
Runtime Error 271 can be caused by a series of problems, but mainly these issues:
- Some application DLLs failed to register during installation
- An outdated version of MSVCRT.DLL is on your system
- An outdated version of MS DCOM exists on your system
- Corrupted registry / missing registry files
How To Fix Runtime Error 271
Step 1 – Reinstall Any Program Causing The Error
If a specific program is causing the error, then you should first reinstall that program. This is done by following this tutorial:
1) Click on Start > Control Panel > Add / Remove Programs
2) On the Window that loads up, browse to the program causing the error
3) Press “Uninstall” on that program
4) Wait for the program to uninstall & then restart
5) Now install the program again
6) Try the program again after the installation is complete
This will replace any of the damaged or corrupted program files / settings that typically cause the Runtime 271 error. It’s often the case that programs do not install properly, and cause the error because windows cannot read a series of files that it requires to run.
Step 2 – Update MSVCRT.DLL File On Your PC
MSVCRT.dll is a file relating to the Visual C++ runtime library, and contains a variety of functions and settings that a lot of programs rely on to run. Unfortunately, this file is continually being updated and as a result, a lot of computers do not have an adequate file which contains the features and settings that their latest software requires. In order to fix this problem, you should try following these steps:
1) Download this version of msvcrt.dll
2) Unzip the msvcrt.dll file to your PC
3) Browse to C:\Windows\System32 on your system
4) Locate the current msvcrt.dll
5) Rename the current msvcrt.dll to msvcrtBACKUP.dll
6) Take the new msvcrt.dll and put it into C:\Windows\System32
7) Click Start > Run (search “Run” in Vista & Win7)
8 ) Type “cmd” and press enter
9) Type “regsvr32 msvcrt.dll” on the black screen
10) Press enter
11) Try your programs again
This will basically place a new version of the msvcrt.dll file onto your PC, and will allow Windows to read the file it needs to run. This normally helps out most computers but not all.
Step 3 – Update Regional Settings On Your PC
Another cause of the Runtime 271 error is the way in which many computers have different regional settings to their country settings. If you have made any alterations to the regional settings of your PC, you should look to revert the settings back to their original state as this might be causing the Runtime error.
Step 4 – Outdated MS DCOM
MS DCOM is a file which Windows uses to help programs use shared functions and features. It’s often the case that an outated MS DCOM file can cause problems for your PC, including the Runtime 271 error. You should look to update this file from the Microsoft site.
Step 5 – Scan With An Antivirus Program
– Download This Antivirus Program
It’s often the case that viruses will infect your computer and then damage the various files and settings that your applications need to run. If this is the case, you will need to use an antivirus program such as “XoftSpySE” to clean out the viruses and make your computer better able to run the programs you want.
Step 6 – Clean Out The Registry
– Download This Registry Cleaner
The “registry” is a database which stores all sorts of information and settings for your PC. Each time you use a program, this database is being used 100’s of times to help Windows open up various files and settings to help it run. Unfortunately, there are a lot of errors which occur inside this database, causing it to run extremely slowly and with errors. It’s not been unknown for the Runtime 271 error to be caused by a damaged or corrupted registry database. To fix this, you should use a ‘registry cleaner’ to scan through the database and fix any of the files / settings that are inside it. You can see our recommended registry cleaner program below: