Witcher 3 broken startup - file missing error

[Chrispy]

hey peeps, I'm completely unable to start witcher 3 - when starting in Steam, I get no response, and when starting it through selecting the application in Files I get the following error message:

c:/windows/system32/vcomp110.dll is either not designed to run on windows or it contains an error. try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support. Error status 0xc000012f

now, I've uninstalled and re-installed witcher 3, copied the DLL file to where the witcher 3 files are, repaired and re-installed the vcredist 64bit files, made sure the game wasn't being blocked by antivirus software - nothing seems to be working.

my next step is contacting CD projekt red, but their contact requires a lot of technical info, and I'm not very good with computer info beyond the basics - if anyone has any suggestions as to what else I could try, it would be hugely appreciated!

[natshely]

Try to download the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4
from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679.

[Chrispy]

Originally posted by natshely:

Try to download the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4
from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679.

yup, I came across that suggestion a couple of times - I tried downloading and re-installing it from that link, and it didn't do anything.
thanks though!

[󠀡󠀡󠀡⁧⁧the.jester]

It might be a stupid question, but you are attempting to run the game on a 64 bit OS aren't you?
(Steam doesn''t download 64bit games on a 32bit OS normally)

If you go to the game install folder where the exe is located, eg
\The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt GOTY\bin\x64
(may be different - mine is GOG version)

Rename/delete steam_api64.dll

Shutdown steam and then try launching the game then, does that work at all?

Originally posted by natshely:

Try to download the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4
from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679.

I would also recommend downloading and installing the x86 version as well.

[Chrispy]

yup, running on 64. I have the x86 version - reinstalling / repairing that hasn't worked; but I haven't come across your other suggestion before, I'll give it a go - thanks!

----

Tried it out - unfortunately it hasn't worked, I'm still getting the same error. But thanks for the suggestion!

Originally posted by the.jester:

It might be a stupid question, but you are attempting to run the game on a 64 bit OS aren't you?
(Steam doesn''t download 64bit games on a 32bit OS normally)

If you go to the game install folder where the exe is located, eg
\The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt GOTY\bin\x64
(may be different - mine is GOG version)

Rename/delete steam_api64.dll

Shutdown steam and then try launching the game then, does that work at all?

Originally posted by natshely:

Try to download the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4
from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679.

I would also recommend downloading and installing the x86 version as well.

[Chrispy]

Hi BuzzardBee - as I said in my first comment, I've allready tried this multiple times. I've re-downloaded, repaired, installed, re-installed those files - doesn't work at all. It's one of the first solutions that shows up when I search online, so it was one of the first things I tried. Still, I'll give it another try in the order you suggested.

---
yup, tried doing your method, still getting the same error, still not running.

The only thing I haven't done is completely re-download the VCOMP.DLL file - mainly because you can't get it direct from microsoft, and you have to go through a third party, which I'm wary of doing.

Originally posted by BuzzardBee:

Both the 2012 and 2013 files you need are already in your game directory, as provided by CDPR/Steam during the game installation but they still require the player to manually install them.

You can find them in the _CommonRedist folder.

Right click on the game title in your Library, then select Properties. Then click on the Local Files tab and then Browse....

In _CommonRedist, you will find two folders: DirectX and vcredist. In the vcredist are two folders: 2012 and 2013. Run the x64 files inside both. The game requires this and not the x86 files to run. Then back out to the DirectX folder. Inside is: Jun2010. Run the DXSETUP file.

Then I would suggest restarting your PC to allow all files to reset. Then start up the game again and that error should go away.