The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b)

[Vepar]

I can't start Steam anymore. I have no idea what happened, it worked yesterday and now it doesn't anymore and i didn't change a thing on my computer.

Things i tried:
- running as adnim
- reinstalling c++ and .net framework
- restarting computer
- reinstalling Steam
- allowing Steam through Firewall (it was already allowed)
- can't do an exception for it in my antivirus since it's not considered a thread, but i had that idea as well
- reinstalling DirectX

Possible related issue:
Windows suddenly stopped recognizing my monitor today. Drivers were up to date, but i did windows update and after a restart it did a disk check on its own and run an autofix thing and after it finally booted into windows, the monitor started working again.

Not sure if that has anything to do with Steam not opening but it started happening about the same time, maybe it's related, idk...

I'm out of ideas, can anyone help me?
I also sent a support ticket, but i'll write it here too just in case someone has an idea i can try.

[Bee🐝]

Since this started all of a sudden, and you're having other issues with Windows as well - I'd recommend running both sfc /scannow and DISM CheckHealth in command prompt - easy to do and google should tell you how.

For fun you can also go through in a chkdsk scan...might as well get them all in.

[Vepar]

Originally posted by Bee:

Since this started all of a sudden, and you're having other issues with Windows as well - I'd recommend running both sfc /scannow and DISM CheckHealth in command prompt - easy to do and google should tell you how.

For fun you can also go through in a chkdsk scan...might as well get them all in.

Windows run ots chkdsk that time it restarted, but no harm in running it again.
I'll Google the other commands and try, thank you!

[Vepar]

Well, ran both commands... There's definitely something going on, but i'm not sure what...

https://imgur.com/wAYpk4a

[Bee🐝]

Originally posted by Vepar:

Well, ran both commands... There's definitely something going on, but i'm not sure what...

https://imgur.com/wAYpk4a

That’s so weird - something is totally off. I believe there’s a DISM command for repairing that - you could try that (Google the error). Edit: as the above poster said it could be a 32bit error, but Windows should be auto finding those it self.

But at this stage, I feel like this is just a symptom of a much larger problem.

So, I think you need to first ask everyone in the Hardware & OS section, as well and see what advice and ideas they have.

But I’m thinking a quick Windows reinstall might be on the books. Obviously, make sure you have backups ready and a Windows restore disk before doing it.

[Iceira]

vepar are you on a Laptop ?
system spec and game name ?

[Vepar]

Originally posted by UberFiend:

"The error code means an invalid image format. Specifically, you are attempting to start an application which is designed to run on 64-bit operating system. But your computer is running 32-bit Windows. The 32 bit application cannot load a 64 bit dll, thus the mixing up 32 bit with 64 bit environment brings about problem. Most of the time, the error is related to missing or faulty components of Microsoft Visual C++, .NET Framework, Runtimes or Direct X."

But... I'm trying to run Steam and i have a 64 bit windows. Probably then the dlls got mixed up or something? Cause it literally happened overnight. Day before i could run everything and next day, cant start steam.

Originally posted by Bee:

Originally posted by Vepar:

Well, ran both commands... There's definitely something going on, but i'm not sure what...

https://imgur.com/wAYpk4a

That’s so weird - something is totally off. I believe there’s a DISM command for repairing that - you could try that (Google the error). Edit: as the above poster said it could be a 32bit error, but Windows should be auto finding those it self.

But at this stage, I feel like this is just a symptom of a much larger problem.

So, I think you need to first ask everyone in the Hardware & OS section, as well and see what advice and ideas they have.

But I’m thinking a quick Windows reinstall might be on the books. Obviously, make sure you have backups ready and a Windows restore disk before doing it.

Well a full reinstall ought to fix it...
I'm out of ideas what to do so I'm going to reinstall windows.

Originally posted by |<- Iceira ->|:

vepar are you on a Laptop ?
system spec and game name ?

A desktop PC, and no game, I can't run steam itself let alone anything else. Starting Steam gives this error.

[Iceira]

run steam as admin, to see if you got security issue with it.

and check windows log, why steam.exe crash

other old advice is reistall steam over current to fix it. ( not sure that will work, then you have a (0xc000007b) , and try run steam in safe mode

and that look like GPU driver Failed or not installed.
and you still did not tell system spec.
nvidia user custom install and make clean driver nstall.

[Iceira]

Originally posted by UberFiend:

You're not helping.

maybe you should pay attension what OP said Monitor Driver stop working.

worst case a burnout gpu card, lets hope its Driver only.

[Iceira]

Originally posted by UberFiend:

Originally posted by |<- Iceira ->|:

maybe you should pay attension what OP said Monitor Driver stop working.

worst case a burnout gpu card, lets hope its Driver only.

Do you know you don't know what you're talking about?

are you play a moderartor steam dont see kind on that.

OP you might want to deal with this , you already point out pretty much all in faulthy finding that no matter what ever any say we cant help you, if you dont allow other ideas.
or i will be more on tech get crash report or im out.


ps.
OP if you have a previous system restore point, you might wanna use it.

[Satoru]

Originally posted by |<- Iceira ->|:

ps.
OP if you have a previous system restore point, you might wanna use it.

I kinda feel like this is likely a better option. Given you said your monitor stopped being recognized too, it feels like you might have a system issue for some reason. Using a previous system restore point would help isolate that problem

Also I've found that frequently people with this issue have done werid things like install DLL files manually into system32/syswow64 and it makes it literally impossible to troubleshoot issues because they basically have some wierd corrupted/bad/old dll

[Vepar]

Originally posted by UberFiend:

Try Windows Updates to see if that picks it up. Including Optionals.

Or reinstall the afore-mentioned packages, VC, .NET, DX.

Windows was updated, the update actually fixed the monitors issue and broke Steam and Guild Wars 2. But i don't think the update itself was to blame, i think some dlls went haywire...

I also tried to reinstall all packages, nothing

I reinstalled Windows again and now everything works.

Originally posted by |<- Iceira ->|:

run steam as admin, to see if you got security issue with it.

and check windows log, why steam.exe crash

other old advice is reistall steam over current to fix it. ( not sure that will work, then you have a (0xc000007b) , and try run steam in safe mode

and that look like GPU driver Failed or not installed.
and you still did not tell system spec.
nvidia user custom install and make clean driver nstall.

I couldn't do anything to Steam, admin or not (i already explained i tried that in my OP), it doesn't even run.
I didn't think to check log. If this happens again, i'll make sure to check it.
GPU driver was installed and working properly.
I did try to reinstall Steam.

System Spec:

AMD Phenom II 1090t x6 3.2Ghz
AMD Radeon R7 260x 1GB
8 GB DDR3
250 GB SSD

It's nothing special but my spec never caused anything like that to happen.
I think this was a software issue.

Originally posted by |<- Iceira ->|:

Originally posted by UberFiend:

You're not helping.

maybe you should pay attension what OP said Monitor Driver stop working.

worst case a burnout gpu card, lets hope its Driver only.

Monitor stopping was a separate issue. Nothing hardware related anyway because POST showed an image on both monitors, the second one only stopped working when i booted into Windows. Windows "forgot" it in device manager, and when i updated it, it ran its "autofix" thing upon restarting and fixed the monitor.

All in all, thank you all for your answers.
I ended up reinstalling a fresh Windows 10 copy.
Not sure what exactly caused this, but it seemed a hell of a lot of hassle to fix in the existing install, and those CMD commands were reporting corrupt files and whatnot, a fresh install seemed like the best idea.

[Bee🐝]

Originally posted by Vepar:

All in all, thank you all for your answers.
I ended up reinstalling a fresh Windows 10 copy.
Not sure what exactly caused this, but it seemed a hell of a lot of hassle to fix in the existing install, and those CMD commands were reporting corrupt files and whatnot, a fresh install seemed like the best idea.

Sorry, there wasn't an easier workaround, but I'm you got it all sorted!

[Iceira]

try system restore point next time alot faster then reinstall windows. ( but any way GZ )

[Vepar]

Originally posted by Bee:

Originally posted by Vepar:

All in all, thank you all for your answers.
I ended up reinstalling a fresh Windows 10 copy.
Not sure what exactly caused this, but it seemed a hell of a lot of hassle to fix in the existing install, and those CMD commands were reporting corrupt files and whatnot, a fresh install seemed like the best idea.

Sorry, there wasn't an easier workaround, but I'm you got it all sorted!

Yeah well, it's windows, i'm kind of used to it by now. :P
The longest Windows installation i had was Windows 10 education edtion, for 3 and something years until it just decided to break.
Reinstalling windows is just how windows works i guess lol. :D

Originally posted by |<- Iceira ->|:

try system restore point next time alot faster then reinstall windows. ( but any way GZ )

Last time WIndows 10 broke on me i tried just that, but it just wouldn't do anything.
I don't have the greatest trust in MS recovery tools... They often make a mess even if they do work.

[Iceira]

sure you do as you see fit, but alot of ppl have seen a rollback a update fix all, and then you update again you dont get the issue, try see it as fast recover step then from scrates.

ask any server or linux user they know how snap of system files can save our butt.
but anyway still user own problem what he do, gl with it.

keep in mind any tech person can tell you this , you dont get credit for things you should have done in the first places, and you only learn then you did not. hard words.

you wont say things like that in a company to a customer or user, thank god for forum where user have chance to say it as it is.