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The MSVCP100.dll and MSVCR100.dll errors usually mean that a program cannot find the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 runtime it was built with. Installing Visual C++ 2012, 2013, or the current Visual C++ package does not reliably replace the 2010 files.
The supported fix is to install the official Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable, using the package architecture that matches the affected application. If the error remains, repair Windows system files with DISM and SFC.
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What these DLL errors mean
MSVCP100.dll and MSVCR100.dll are part of the Visual C++ 2010 runtime, also called VC++ 10.0. Microsoft lists the Visual Studio 2010 SP1 Redistributable as version 10.0.40219.325.
A message such as one of these does not necessarily mean that every Visual C++ package is missing:
MSVCP100.dll was not foundMSVCR100.dll is missing from your computerThe code execution cannot proceed because MSVCP100.dll was not found
You may already have Visual C++ 2012 or a newer package installed, but those packages are installed side by side. They do not automatically satisfy an application built with Visual Studio 2010.
1. Install Visual C++ 2010 SP1 from Microsoft
Download the installers from Microsoft’s Visual C++ Redistributable page:
vcredist_x86.exe— for 32-bit applications.vcredist_x64.exe— for 64-bit applications.
These are the Visual Studio 2010 SP1 installers, not the current Visual C++ v14 package. Microsoft labels Visual Studio 2010 as no longer supported because extended support ended on July 14, 2020. That support status does not prevent the redistributable from being required by older software.
Which installer should you use?
| Windows or application situation | Install |
|---|---|
| 32-bit Windows | x86 |
| 64-bit Windows and the affected program is 32-bit | x86 |
| 64-bit Windows and the affected program is 64-bit | x64 |
| 64-bit Windows and you do not know the program architecture | Both x86 and x64 |
| Both 32-bit and 64-bit legacy programs may be affected | Both x86 and x64 |
The architecture must match the application, not merely the Windows installation. A 64-bit runtime does not satisfy a 32-bit program. On a 64-bit version of Windows, installing both packages is the simplest approach when you are unsure.
- Download
vcredist_x86.exeand, on 64-bit Windows,vcredist_x64.exe. - Run each installer.
- Accept the license terms and choose Install or Repair if the installer says the package is already present.
- Restart Windows.
- Open the program that showed the DLL error.
2. Check whether the DLL is present
Do not use a random DLL download site to replace these files. The Microsoft-supported method is to install the corresponding redistributable package, which installs the runtime libraries together and registers the package correctly.
On a conventional 64-bit Windows installation, check the 64-bit system directory this way:
- Open File Explorer.
- Select This PC.
- Open C:, then Windows, then System32.
- Look for
MSVCP100.dllandMSVCR100.dll.
Finding a DLL in a system folder does not prove that the affected program can use it. A 32-bit application may need the x86 runtime, and the application may also be reporting a different dependency failure through the same startup dialog. Use the redistributable installer rather than copying an individual DLL between computers.
3. Repair Windows system files with DISM and SFC
If the correct Visual C++ 2010 SP1 packages are installed but the error continues, or if the files appear damaged, run Microsoft’s system-file repair sequence. DISM must run before SFC.
- Right-click the Start button.
- Choose Terminal (Admin), PowerShell (Admin), or Command Prompt (Admin), depending on which option Windows displays.
- Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Run this command and wait for it to finish:
DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /RESTOREHEALTH- After DISM completes, run:
SFC /SCANNOW- Restart Windows, even if SFC reports that it repaired files successfully.
- Test the affected application again.
Do not close the terminal while either scan is running. The percentage may pause for several minutes, particularly during the DISM operation.
4. Reinstall the application only after checking the runtime
Reinstalling the affected program is not a guaranteed solution. If the program’s Visual C++ dependency is absent, reinstalling it may leave the same missing-DLL error behind. Install the correct Visual C++ 2010 SP1 architecture first, then reinstall the application only if its own installation files may be damaged.
If the application includes a folder named something like redist, vcredist, or Prerequisites, it may contain an installer supplied by the software vendor. The Microsoft SP1 packages above remain the appropriate runtime generation for these two DLL names.
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Do not install the wrong Visual C++ generation
The current Visual C++ v14 Redistributable is intended for applications built with newer Visual Studio toolsets, including Visual Studio 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2026. It is not an automatic replacement for the Visual C++ 2010 runtime.
Likewise, installing Visual C++ 2012 does not repair a program that specifically requires MSVCP100.dll or MSVCR100.dll. Microsoft documents these redistributables as side-by-side installations because applications depend on the runtime generation used to build them.
Quick troubleshooting checklist
| Symptom | Likely correction |
|---|---|
| Only Visual C++ 2012 or newer is installed | Install Visual C++ 2010 SP1. |
| Only x64 is installed on 64-bit Windows | Install the x86 package for a 32-bit application. |
| The error started after system files were damaged | Run DISM, then SFC, and restart. |
| The application still fails after both architectures are installed | Run the repair commands and check the application’s own prerequisites or support documentation. |
| A DLL-download site offers an individual file | Do not use it; install the official redistributable instead. |
FAQ
Are MSVCP100.dll and MSVCR100.dll the same file?
No. They are different Visual C++ runtime libraries, but both belong to the Visual C++ 2010 SP1 runtime. Installing the correct redistributable is preferable to downloading either DLL separately.
Will installing Visual C++ 2015–2022 fix MSVCP100.dll?
Not necessarily. The current v14 package is not an automatic replacement for Visual C++ 2010. For MSVCP100.dll or MSVCR100.dll errors, install the official Visual C++ 2010 SP1 package first.
Should I install both x86 and x64 on Windows 11?
Install both on 64-bit Windows when the application’s architecture is unknown or both 32-bit and 64-bit programs may need the runtime. Install x86 for 32-bit applications and x64 for 64-bit applications.
Is Visual C++ 2010 safe to install on Windows 11?
The package is a legacy Microsoft redistributable and is still used by older applications. Visual Studio 2010 itself is no longer supported, but that does not change the runtime dependency of software built with it.
What if the DLL already exists in System32?
The application may be 32-bit and require the x86 runtime, or another runtime dependency may be missing or damaged. Install the matching VC++ 2010 package, then run DISM followed by SFC if the error remains.
Can I copy MSVCP100.dll from another computer?
That is not the supported repair method and can create version or architecture mismatches. Install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable instead.
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The Bottom Line
For MSVCP100.dll or MSVCR100.dll errors, install Visual C++ 2010 SP1, not Visual C++ 2012 or the current v14 package. On 64-bit Windows, install both vcredist_x86.exe and vcredist_x64.exe if you do not know the application’s architecture. Restart, then run DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /RESTOREHEALTH followed by SFC /SCANNOW if the problem continues.
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