MSVCR80.dll Error Fix for Dummies (I'm a Dummy)

[tyrfendall]

Starting this thread for others who may have encountered this problem.

TW:EE keeps randomly crashing with the following error:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BEX
Application Name: witcher.exe
Application Version: 1.5.0.1304
Application Timestamp: 4910475c
Fault Module Name: MSVCR80.dll
Fault Module Version: 8.0.50727.4940
Fault Module Timestamp: 4ca2b271
Exception Offset: 0003411a
Exception Code: c000000d
Exception Data: 00000000
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48
Locale ID: 2057
Additional Information 1: 2e88
Additional Information 2: 2e88e4e14ecd6a84a26aa264030e8d02
Additional Information 3: 13fb
Additional Information 4: 13fba8a7e93b7fcee23a8c94da19e096

OS: Win 7, 64bit

After a lot of Googling, there were all sorts of answers, and I did try most of these (not exactly in the order shown below):-

1. Uninstalling & reinstalling the entire game
2. Reinstalling Microsoft Visual C (version 2005) Redistributable package
3. Trying to force Steam to reinstall common redistributables by deleting the relevant registry key
4. Verifying local files (this was before I uninstalled / reinstalled)

Unfortunately none of those options alone worked. Now, before you try my solution below, look inside two folders:-

1. The main TW:EE folder (Opening the Steam Library page for TW:EE, then clicking on Settings > Manage > Browse Local Files is the fastest method) and open the "System" folder.
2. Your C:\Windows\SysWOW64 folder (if your OS isn't installed on your C: drive then obviously replace "C" with the applicable drive alphabet)

Is MSVCR80.dll in either of those folders? If it is, then just copy it from the one where it exists, to the one where it doesn't and voila! You (may) have completed my solution without all the necessary steps. Try it!

If you don't, or if the above step didn't work, then try this:-

1. Uninstall the existing Microsoft Visual C (version 2005) Redistributable using "Programs and Features" from the Control Panel (Hint: Neither this nor deleting the relevant Steam registry key made TW:EE attempt to reinstall the relevant redistributable, so don't bother attempting to relaunch TW:EE)
2. Open the main TW:EE folder (again), where you'll see a folder named "vcredist"
3. Delete the whole-a.s.s folder
4. Go back to the Steam page Run "Verify Local Files" - it'll tell you a file is missing and it needs to re-download. Don't worry; it's super-small and will only take a few minutes.
5. Go back to the main TW:EE folder and open the re-downloaded vcredist folder.
6. Run the vcredist_x86.exe you find inside (there should only be one)
7. Exit the "vcredist" folder and open the "System" folder
8. You'll find the problem file now, MSVCR80.dll
9. Copy the file and open this folder: C:\Windows\SysWOW64 (if your OS isn't installed on your C: drive then obviously replace "C" with the applicable drive alphabet)
10. Paste your copied MSVCR80.dll in there, too

Yes, it's a 32-bit version of the redistributable; yes it's the correct one even though you're running a 64-bit system.

If you're interested in how the problem itself happened you can continue reading, but otherwise - happy (continued) gaming!

So. I did enough Googling to know that the above error stems from an issue with the redistributable. My understanding is that for whatever infernal reason, Windows decided to mysteriously and without any warning randomly delete a necessary DLL file (could be your installation of a new program, could be you just happened to touch your mouse the wrong way on a bad day. It's Microsoft, who knows) in the relevant folder. It might also have deleted other parts of the redist, who knows; but it's this particular file that got fingered out as the culprit, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Unfortunately, you can't just download the DLL by itself (I was tempted to but was advised against it) as it needs to work in tandem with the rest of the package it was meant to be installed with, and also there are (probably) other packages with a DLL by the same name, but it's a different version. So you don't know if the DLL you're downloading from wherever is going to be the exact DLL TW wants.

Also unfortunately, downloading the Redist from other sources - even its own official Microsoft page - doesn't work; TW still crashed with the same error. Patching and updating the redist didn't work, too; and as mentioned above somehow Steam just doesn't recognise that the necessary redistributable has been uninstalled (despite me deleting the registry key).

Triple unfortunately; reinstalling VC Redistributable package using the EXE in the "vcredist: folder didn't work the first time (prior to my uninstalling it - either it was inherently faulty, or it just can't repair a corrupt existing installation).

Hence all the steps above. Either way, does it matter? You get to play again - hurray!