Game Will Not Launch Error (0xc000007b)

Hello

I pre-purchased Shadow of the Tomb Raider on Steam for the early access, and have spent the entire time trying to get it to launch I have been searching extensively for any kind of solution.
I've contacted Square Enix but have been ignored. I posted in game tech forum on Steam, but their only suggestions (Visual C++ and DirectX) haven't worked, and I'm now being ignored.

I'm tearing my hair out , and I'm hoping you guys can help

OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Service Pack 1
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4460S CPU @ 2.90GHz (4 CPUs)
Memory: 8192MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB

Things I've tried:

1) Reinstalled the game several times
2) Verified game files through Steam library
3) Run as Administrator
4) Run directly from the SOTTR exe (get error "The application was unable to start correctly
(0xc000007b) )
5) Update .NET Framework to 4.7.2
6) Verified PC file integrity via sfc / scannow
7) Added any file/folder I found into Avast! exclusions
8) The game is supposed to create a folder in My Documents, but it won't. My Documents is not hidden, or blocked in any way.
​

Things I have yet to try, but have questions:

1) Install/Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable

• I have version 14.0.24215 so I can't install version 14.0.23026 as was suggested. Should I uninstall the higher build; install the lower version, then reinstall the higher again?

2) Install/Replace specific dll files:

• Some solutions were to replace: xinout1_1.dll; xinput1_2.dll; xinput1_3.dll; xinput1_4.dll; xinput9_1_0.dll
• Others suggested: mfc100.dll; mfc100u.dll; msvcp100.dll; msvcr100.dll; msvcr100_clr0400.dl

I have no idea if I need to replace them with 32-bit, or 64-bit; if they should go into System32, SysWOW64, or both. Messing with dlls is scary .

• Others said to delete every file that begins with "d3dx9" in System32 and SysWOW64, then reinstall DirectX.

3) DependecyWalker:

• I ran the game through this program, and found something very strange that doesn't appear when testing other games. It is showing Skype dll files being associated somehow.(please see *Capture2* attached).

I only found one person who encountered this. He replaced the x86 dlls with x64 in the Skype folder. I have no idea why these files are showing in the game ddls, and I'm afraid I may mess up my Skype.
Also, after profiling the game in DW, an API dll error shows at the end of the log (*Capture2* attached).
​

I've attached my DxDiag and a screenshot of all the Visual C++ I have installed (*Capture1*)

Hopefully some the above steps will help, I just need a bit of clarification before I try. I'm just so frustrated and confused as to what's wrong. I've had no problems with any other game, except this one.

I really hope someone will be able to help. Thank you so much!

​

 

Welcome to MajorGeeks.

For the benefit of all I'm posting the following link.
https://appuals.com/windows-application-error-0xc000007b/

You need to follow the instructions in methods 7 & 8.

Method 7:
Download and install Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 - both 32-bit & 64-bit.
Get the files from here:
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_visual_c_2010_redistributable_package.html

Method 8:
After running chkdsk, open Command Prompt as Administrator and paste the following code and press Enter.

Code:

wevtutil qe Application /rd:true /f:text /c:1 /q:*[System[Provider[@Name='Microsoft-Windows-Wininit']]] > "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\ChkdskLog.txt

Upload the ChkdskLog.txt file.

 

Hello Eldon, thank you so much for your reply

I just have a quick question before I try your suggestions:

Should I uninstall Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable 14.0.24215 before installing Microsoft Visual C++ 2017? I have seen reports that people are having problems installing the 2017. I know of at least one game that does use the 14.0.24215...I found the redist in the game folder. I really don't know much about the Visual C++, and I just want to make sure that everything that is already working doesn't stop working lol!

Thanks again

 

It's not necessary.
Many users have numerous version of the same MS Visual C++ installed. They take up a tiny amount of disk space.

 

Hi Eldon

Sorry for the late reply.

I installed Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 x86 and x64, it was installed successfully. I also ran chkdsk /f /r as you suggested, and I've attached the log for you

 

The log file shows no errors.

 

I didn't think so either . I tried running the game again, but I still have the same problem.

 

There's an often-overlooked update for DirectX.
After downloading, extract the files to a folder, and run the exe file.
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_directx.html

 

I haven't updated my drivers recently, so I really should do that anyway. I have tried running that DirectX file a couple of times, but it hasn't helped. It seems that this error is due (most of the time) to the fact that a 32-bit app is trying to access a 64-bit dll, or vice versa.

In one forum post I saw, someone explained it as such:
"0xc000007b means a DLL that has the wrong bitness value. Usual cause is that you somehow ended up with a 32-bit DLL being placed into the Windows\System32 folder on a 64-bit Windows environment."

Some people found that replacing the dlls I listed in my initial post helped; while others fixed it by reinstalling the Visual C++ Redistributable packages. Some fixed the problem by replacing/reinstalling specific DirectX dlls.

So going by what most people have done, it's more often than not a dll problem...somewhere. And the fact that DependencyWalker is coming up with all those weird dll errors ,maybe that is the problem. I'm just scared to start messing with dlls, in fear of other things failing to work, or nothing working at all lol!

 

Just wanted to report on something I found...

I decided to see if Event Viewer logged any info when I attempted to start the game. The most recent thing it reports was a "SideBySide" event. I attached a copy of the error.
I found a thread here on the forums that discussed this, and so possibly it has something to do with the Visual C++ redistributables. I honestly have no idea what that error means.
https://forums.majorgeeks.com/threads/error-sidebyside-event-id-80.289953/

The problem I'm having with this game could be anything. Bad Visual C++ Redistributables; corrupt dlls; or something completely different. It's only with this one game, and it's driving me insane

 

Hi Eldon

I know it's been a couple of weeks, but I just wanted to report that I finally was able to get the game to launch.

As DependencyWalker showed (Capture 2 in my original post), the game was trying to access dlls in the skype folder. Apparently the game needs these particular dlls to run, but it could only find the 32-bit versions, whereas it needed the 64-bit. If I was to replace those, then Skype wouldn't work.

Apparently, the fix was to install Microsoft Update for Universal C Runtime - "This update allows Windows desktop applications that depend on the Windows 10 Universal CRT release to run on earlier Windows operating systems ". So I suppose that makes sense since I'm on Windows 7.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you so much for your help