How To Solve Error 0xc000012f in Windows 10

Ugh, Error 0xc000012f in Windows 10 is such a pain. The wording of this error makes it sound super important, but in reality, it’s not that big of a deal. And guess what? We can actually avoid it altogether. In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to troubleshoot and fix Error 0xc000012f in Windows 10.

The specific wording of Error 0xc000012f may vary depending on which file Windows thinks is causing the issue. But it usually goes something like this:

“C:WINDOWSSYSTEM32WINSPOOL.DRV is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try reinstalling the program using the original installation media, or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support. Error status 0xc000012f.”

Now, for experienced users, this message may not be a big deal. But for many, seeing the words “not designed to run on Windows” or “it contains an error” can cause panic, making them think there’s a serious problem with the program or with Windows itself. But fear not, my friend. It’s not that serious. In fact, we can usually fix it by identifying the problematic file and replacing it.

All Error 0xc000012f means is that a necessary file or dependency is missing or damaged. It’s not a major issue, and we can easily fix it in just a few minutes once we figure out which file is causing the trouble. And lucky for us, the error message tells us exactly that. In the example above, the culprit is ‘WINSPOOL.DRV’.

Now, the way we go about fixing this error depends on whether it’s a Windows program or a game that’s giving us the Error 0xc000012f. The cause might be the same, but the solutions differ. Let me guide you through both scenarios.

How to Fix Error 0xc000012f in Windows 10 or Programs

If you’re seeing Error 0xc000012f in Windows 10 or with your programs, it means that a file is either missing or damaged. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to address this issue.

If you’re dealing with a Windows file, we can turn to the System File Checker to help us identify and fix the problem. For programs, a simple reinstallation should do the trick.

Let’s start with Microsoft products, like Windows, Office, Word, or Edge. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Windows Start button and choose Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type ‘sfc /scannow’ and press Enter.
3. Allow the process to complete.

If Windows is able to detect the missing or damaged file, it will automatically replace it with a new copy, and the error should disappear.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, it’s worth checking if a recent Windows Update is to blame. Here’s what you can do:

1. Right-click the Windows Start button and select Settings.
2. Select Update & Security, then choose Update History.

If there was an update installed around the same time the error started occurring, you can try uninstalling it to see if that resolves the issue. After uninstalling, reinstall the update and monitor if the error reappears.

How to Fix Error 0xc000012f in Windows 10 While Playing a Game

Whenever you encounter the error 0xc000012f while playing a game, it’s typically due to an issue with Microsoft’s Visual C++ Redistributable. The files within the application can sometimes become corrupted or deleted, causing games to suddenly stop working or display the error 0xc000012f.

Usually, the error 0xc000012f message will mention one or more of these files:

• System32: MFC100.DLL, MFC100U.DLL, MSVCP100.DLL, MSVCR100.DLL, MSVCR100_CLR0400.DLL, XINPUT1_3.DLL.
• SysWOW64: MSVCP100.DLL, MSVCR100.DLL, MSVCR100_CLR0400.DLL, XINPUT1_3.DLL

To fix the error 0xc000012f in a game, you need to reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributable. The simplest way to do this is by locating the game folder. Inside, you’ll find a Resources or Software folder containing a Visual C++ version, often named VCRedist. Open it and run the installation file. This should usually resolve the issue and get your game running again.

If that doesn’t work, follow these steps:

1. Identify the file mentioned in the error message syntax. For example, ‘C:WINDOWSSYSTEM32MSVCR120.dll’.
2. Download Visual Studio 2013 directly from Microsoft and install it.
3. Try running your game again.

The file mentioned in the error message indicates which version of Visual C++ you need to install. Trying the above file is the easiest option. If it doesn’t work, you can paste the file name into a Google search to find out the required version. Different versions of Visual C++ contain different files.

If none of the previous solutions work, you will need to reinstall the game entirely. Follow these steps:

1. Uninstall your game using the provided uninstaller. If possible, select the option to keep your save games.
2. Restart your computer to ensure all files are removed from memory.
3. Reinstall the game from scratch.

Keep in mind that some games may not offer the option to keep your save games. In such cases, it’s a good idea to manually save them in a different location to avoid starting over. Usually, the save files are stored in the Documents or Saved Games folders if they’re not located within the game folder itself. Make a copy of the files and move them elsewhere, just in case the uninstaller deletes them by default.