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Configuration Is Incorrect Error

Solved: The Application Has Failed to Start Because Its Side-By-Side

Configuration Is Incorrect Error
Today we're looking at the error known as "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side
configuration is incorrect." It concludes with "Please see the application event log or use the command-line
sxstrace.exe tool for more details." is a problematic error that can occur in many games and apps and even
Microsoft Office, but it's an easy fix.

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Odds are you're missing the Visual C++ runtime package required or there's a registry error. Visual C++ is a
programming language, and most of the times you have this installed by default. The only tricky part about the
Visual C++ installers is that there are many versions.

Here are a couple of fixes for you, however, further down, for the geek in you, we show you how to get more
details to find out precisely what version you need.

For those who prefer a video version:

1: Check for a Known Registry Problem

Verifying your registry entry is faster than the other steps and easy enough to check, so let's do that first.

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > SideBySide > Winners >
x86_policy.9.0.microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_none_02d0010672fd8219 > 9.0

That second to last long entry could vary from computer to computer, but it is the only key with 9.0 and crt in
the string.

Look to the right for Default and compare it with the keys below it. The default Data version should match the
highest number under Name. I know, a tad confusing.

So, here you can see my Default Data number is 9.0.30729.9177. By looking below, you see we have two
entries, and 9.0.30729.9177 is our highest number, and they match. In this case, this isn't your problem.

If your highest version number isn't the default key, then we want to modify it, so they match. For example,
let's say your highest version number is 9.0.30729.9199. Right-click on the Default key and select Modify.
Under Value Data enter the highest number, which, again, just as an example, we entered 9.0.30729.9199.
Now that your Default key matches the highest version, reboot and your problem should be solved.

2: Install the Visual C++ Runtimes

First, try and install the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package and see if the error is gone.

If not, a third-party app including Visual C++ Runtime Installer (All-In-One) may also install older versions
of Visual C++. It's been our experience that this error is often because of an older version of Visual C++
missing. Speaking of which....

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3: Track Down What Version of Visual C++ Runtime You're Missing

If you'd prefer to only install the correct, missing pack, we need to find out which one you're missing.

Press the Windows KEY + S and type in event viewer until you see Event Viewer and click on that. Find
Summary of Administrative Events and expand the Error subcategory and look for SideBySide.
Double-click SideBySide and you will see a list of all events. If you see more than one, select the one with the
date and time you got the error.

In this case, while a tad hard to figure out, you can see Microsoft.VC90, which refers to Microsoft Visual C++.
Below that, you'll see the missing version number, in this case, 9.0.21022.8. If you Google that version, you
will find that you need Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 (VC++ 9.0) SP1. Other versions include:

Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable 14.0.23026.0

Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable for Visual Studio 12.0.30501.0
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable for Visual Studio 11.0.61030.0
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable 10.0.40219.1

Always install both the 32-Bit and 64-Bit version of the Visual C++ Runtime that you're missing and reboot to
be sure your application sees the correct runtimes.

That should fix you up. If it didn't, or you have other fixes, drop us a comment below.

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