220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A user reports that a 64-bit line-of-business application crashes immediately upon launch with error code '0xc000007b' on a Windows 10 Pro workstation. The technician has already reinstalled the application, run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM with no issues, and updated all device drivers. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT to resolve the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates may mistake 0xc000007b for a DEP or compatibility issue, leading them to disable DEP or perform an in-place upgrade, when the actual root cause is a missing or mismatched Visual C++ runtime library.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable packages.
Error code 0xc000007b typically indicates a corrupted or missing Visual C++ Redistributable package, which provides essential runtime libraries for 64-bit applications. Since the technician has already reinstalled the application, run SFC/DISM, and updated drivers, the next logical step is to install or repair the latest Visual C++ Redistributables (both x86 and x64) to ensure the application's dependencies are intact.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Perform a Windows 10 in-place upgrade.
Why it's wrong here
Performing a Windows 10 in-place upgrade reinstalls the operating system while preserving user files and applications, but it is a broad, time-consuming measure that does not specifically repair the Visual C++ runtime libraries. The 0xc000007b error is a loader failure caused by missing or mismatched DLLs such as msvcp140.dll, and an OS refresh will not reliably restore or replace those components. In many cases, the same broken runtime state is simply carried over, leaving the application crashing exactly as before.
- ✓
Install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable packages.
Why this is correct
Error 0xc000007b is the Windows error STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_FORMAT, which frequently appears when a 32-bit application attempts to load 64-bit runtime DLLs, or when required Visual C++ runtime files are missing, damaged, or of the wrong architecture. Installing the latest Visual C++ Redistributable packages for both x86 and x64 ensures that the correct versions of the CRT and Standard C++ libraries are present in the system directories. This directly addresses the root cause of the crash, making it the correct first-line fix for a line-of-business application failing with this code.
- ✗
Disable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) for the application.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling Data Execution Prevention (DEP) for an application is a security-reducing workaround that is intended for software that attempts to execute code from non-executable memory pages, such as older programs with self-modifying code. The 0xc000007b error is not caused by a DEP violation; it is a format-mismatch or missing-DLL loading error that occurs before the application's code even runs. Disabling DEP would therefore have no effect on the crash, while leaving the system unnecessarily vulnerable to memory-based attacks, so it is an inappropriate and unsafe recommendation.
- ✗
Run the application in compatibility mode for Windows 8.
Why it's wrong here
Running the application in compatibility mode for Windows 8 applies a compatibility shim that alters how Windows presents itself to the application, typically helping older software that fails due to version checks or API differences. A line-of-business application crashing with 0xc000007b is suffering from a runtime DLL loading failure, not from the OS version being too new or an incompatible API call. Compatibility mode cannot install or repair the missing Visual C++ libraries, and Windows 8 does not offer a fundamentally different runtime environment for this type of app, so this option will not resolve the error.
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Key term
Windows
Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft that manages computer hardware and software, providing a graphical user interface for users to interact with their devices.
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1102
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user installed a new application on a Windows 10 computer. When attempting to launch it, the user receives the error: 'The program can't start because VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing from your computer.' Which action should the technician take to resolve this issue?
medium- A.Run the System File Checker (sfc /scannow) from an elevated command prompt.
- ✓ B.Download and install the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package.
- C.Reinstall the application that is failing to launch.
- D.Update the graphics driver to the latest version.
Why B: The error 'VCRUNTIME140.dll is missing' indicates that the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015-2022 is not installed or is corrupted. This DLL is a core runtime component required by applications compiled with that version of Visual C++. Installing the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package (which includes VCRUNTIME140.dll) directly resolves the missing dependency without needing to reinstall the application or repair system files.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1102 exam.