msvcp140.dll, which comes under the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable package, is a dynamic link library. It is essential for running applications developed using Visual C++. One might want to destress after a long day of work by playing their favourite game when the message “msvcp140.dll not found” pops up on their screen. It becomes immensely frustrating to be unable to run their favourite applications. These errors occur due to a plethora of reasons. It is, however, essential for users to understand what the library is and why it is necessary for third-party software.
What is a dynamic link library?
.dll files, short for dynamic link libraries, are files that cannot be executed directly by any user. They contain elements that are essential to the proper functioning of an application. This application might be software or a game. Regardless, the components come together to ensure the smooth functioning of the application.
What is this particular dynamic link library?
An average computer user might not be aware of languages like Visual C++. msvcp140.dll comes as part of the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable package. It is vital to applications developed using Visual C++. In most cases, these files come as part of the operating system by default. However, updates are required to keep them up-to-date. Microsoft offers a wide range of such libraries to ease the developer in their process. A corrupt installation or malware can affect the proper functioning of the file and pose threats to the entire system.
Common errors faced by users
There is a wide range of errors caused if these libraries are in a faulty condition. However, these errors are actually not fatal to the functioning of the operating system and are easily solvable.
- i) Missing files – The most prevalent error that users face across the world is missing files. Applications like software or games use the components existing in a dynamic link library for their proper functioning. The msvcp140 file gets deprecated and doesn’t get recognized by the application after updates. There is also no entry in the registry, making it difficult for the system to find it.
- ii) Corrupt files – Another issue that users face is that of a corrupt .dll file. This issue occurs due to malware or faulty installations of applications. These errors make it difficult for the user to run third-party applications using the packages offered by Microsoft.
Solutions to these issues
One can adopt multiple solutions to resolve the issues. In most cases, the procedure is pretty straightforward to comprehend. However, there might be a few occurrences where it might not be simple to follow for the average computer user.
- i) Downloading the missing or corrupt file – The easiest step is downloading a fresh copy of the file from a trusted source. One needs to verify the authenticity of the website. Many phishing websites tend to upload malware in such files to access the files of the user.
- ii) System restore – Another easy solution is system restore. A user can select a point where their desired application was working perfectly. However, they agree to revert all the updates that have occurred since then.
msvcp140.dll is a library that only causes issues to third-party applications. It is not vital to the smooth functioning of the operating system. However, multiple users of Windows-based operating systems are unaware of the files that exist on their computers. In such cases, there is an imminent need to make them aware of the significance of such files and how they affect the proper performance of applications
