How to Fix the “Code Execution Cannot Proceed” Error? [6 Simple & Advanced Ways]

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In This Guide

TRY IT NOW: Quick Solutions to Resolve the Code Execution Error Now

3 Simple Methods to Fix the Error “Code Execution Cannot Proceed”

Solution 1. Perform SFC and DISM Scans

Solution 2. Reinstall the Affected Application

Solution 3. Update Your Device Drivers

3 Advanced Methods to Fix the “The code execution cannot proceed because a specific DLL file was not found” Error

Adv. Solution 1. Re-register the Problematic DLL File

Adv. Solution 2. Perform System Restore

Adv. Solution 3. Install the Missing DLL File Manually

Last Word

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Are you encountering the “Code Execution Cannot Proceed” error in Windows when trying to launch or close a program? This error states: “The code execution cannot proceed because a specific DLL file was not found. Reinstalling the program may fix this problem”. 

This error typically arises when the system cannot find a necessary file for running an application, often due to issues with DLL files or corrupted system files.
Other factors such as accidentally deleted or corrupted files, incomplete installations or system updates can disrupt existing DLL files, causing the problem. DLL files, such as MSVCP140.dll, MSVCP120.dll, and VCRUNTIME140.dll, are vital for the proper functioning of the operating system and various applications.

Missing DLL files can also cause other errors similar to this one, like ‘Failed to find Steam’ and ‘OneDrive.exe – Bad Image Error’.

3 Simple Methods to Fix the Error “Code Execution Cannot Proceed”

Let’s start with the simple steps that don’t require much technical work and can be followed by anyone easily.

Solution 1. Perform SFC and DISM Scans

System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM) scans can repair corrupted system files that might be causing the error. Below, we’ll guide you through the steps:

• Click the “Start” button, type “cmd”, select “Run as administrator”.
• Click “Yes” when prompted to continue.

• In the “Command Prompt”, type sfc /scannow and press ‘Enter’.

• Wait for the process to complete. If the scan finds and repairs corrupted files, you’ll see a message indicating this.
• Try launching the problematic application to see if the issue is resolved.
• If the problem persists, open “Command Prompt” as an administrator again.
• Enter the following commands one by one and press ‘Enter’:

dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth 

These steps will help ensure that your system files are intact and that any issues with the Windows component store are resolved.

Solution 2. Reinstall the Affected Application

Reinstalling the application that triggers the error can often resolve the issue. This method works by replacing any corrupted files associated with the application. Follow these steps for a clean reinstallation:

• Press ‘Win+I’ to open “Settings” and go to the “Apps” section.
• Go to “Installed Apps” and in the list, locate the application you want to remove.
• Click on the ‘options‘ icon, select “Uninstall”, and follow the on-screen instructions.

• Once the application is uninstalled, check if the “Code Execution Cannot Proceed because DLL was not found” error persists.

Now, reinstall the app from its official website.

Solution 3. Update Your Device Drivers

Outdated or corrupt device drivers can also lead to this error. Updating them can resolve compatibility issues.

• Press “Windows + X” and select “Device Manager”.

• Expand the categories and locate the devices with outdated drivers (usually marked with a yellow exclamation mark).
• Right-click on the device and select “Update driver”.
• Choose “Search automatically for drivers” and follow the prompts.

Updating drivers ensures that all hardware components work correctly with the latest software.

3 Advanced Methods to Fix the “The code execution cannot proceed because a specific DLL file was not found” Error

If the previous methods don’t resolve the problem, you can try these advanced methods. 

Adv. Solution 1. Re-register the Problematic DLL File

Re-registering the file causing the error can resolve issues by ensuring that it is properly integrated into the system’s registry.

• Click the “Start” button, type “cmd”, and select “Run as administrator”.
• Click “Yes” when prompted to continue.

• Copy and paste the following commands, pressing ‘Enter’ after each one: (Replace filename with the name of the problematic DLL file)
  regsvr32 /u filename
regsvr32 filename

• Close the “Command Prompt” and restart your system.

Adv. Solution 2. Perform System Restore

Using System Restore can revert your system to a previous state before the error occurred, which can resolve the issue if it was caused by recent changes but only if you have created system restore points before the issue occurred.

• Press ‘Win + S’, type “Control Panel” into the search box, and press ‘Enter’ to open the Control Panel window. 

• Select “Large icons” under the “View by” category and click “Recovery”.
• Click on the “Open System Restore” option. Click “Next” to proceed. 

• Choose an appropriate system restore point and click “Next” to confirm the selection

• Ensure you have reviewed the information carefully before starting the process, as the system restore cannot be interrupted once it begins. 
• Click “Next” to start the restoration.

When the process is completed, your system will revert to the previous state, potentially resolving the error.
For a full Windows repair, see our guide here.

Adv. Solution 3. Install the Missing DLL File Manually

If the error is due to a missing DLL file, manually installing it can resolve the problem. It provides the required component for the application to run correctly.

• Visit, for example “DLL-files.com“ or any other DLL file website and enter the name of the specific DLL file causing the error (e.g., MSVCP140.dll) into the search bar. Click on “Search DLL file”.

• Choose the latest version of the DLL file that matches your operating system, and then click “Download”.

• Once the file is downloaded, extract the contents of the zip file to any location on your computer. Copy the DLL file from the extracted folder.
• Paste the DLL file into two locations:
  • C:\Windows\System32
  • The installation folder of the game or application that is showing the error.
• Restart the application to see if the error has been resolved. 

Last Word

By using these methods, you can fix the “Code Execution Cannot Proceed” error in Windows. These steps provide a comprehensive approach to troubleshooting and fixing the error, addressing issues with problematic applications, corrupted system files, outdated drivers, or missing DLL files.

If you still have some error lingering — write it out in the comment section below and we’ll try to help!