220-1102 Software Troubleshooting Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a Windows 10 workstation where a user reports that a specific application displays an error: 'The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b).' The technician has already reinstalled the application and run SFC and DISM with no issues. Which step should the technician take NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume SFC and DISM cover all system file issues, but they do not verify application-specific DLL dependencies, leading them to incorrectly choose chkdsk or reinstall Windows instead of using a specialized tool like Dependency Walker.
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
✓
Use Dependency Walker to check for missing DLLs
Error 0xc000007b typically indicates a mismatch between 32-bit and 64-bit binaries, often caused by missing or corrupted Visual C++ Redistributable DLLs. Since the technician has already reinstalled the application and verified system file integrity with SFC and DISM, the next logical step is to use Dependency Walker (depends.exe) to identify which specific DLL is missing or mismatched, as this tool directly analyzes the application's import table and reveals dependency issues that SFC/DISM cannot address.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reinstall Windows
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling Windows is disproportionate; the error stems from a bitness mismatch in a dependency, which targeted repair resolves without wiping the OS. It is tempting because a full reinstall clears most software faults, and it would be correct when the installation is irreparably corrupted or malware-damaged.
- ✓
Use Dependency Walker to check for missing DLLs
Why this is correct
Error 0xc000007b signals an architecture mismatch or corrupt dependency, typically a 32-bit versus 64-bit DLL conflict. Since SFC, DISM and reinstallation found nothing, Dependency Walker identifies the specific missing or mismatched DLL causing the load failure.
- ✗
Run chkdsk
Why it's wrong here
0xc000007b signals a 32-bit/64-bit architecture mismatch, typically a corrupted or wrong-bitness dependency, which chkdsk does not address. Chkdsk is tempting because it repairs disk and file-system errors, and it would be correct when the symptom points to bad sectors or file-system corruption.
- ✗
Update device drivers
Why it's wrong here
The 0xc000007b error signals an architecture mismatch — a 32-bit process loading 64-bit DLLs, or vice versa — not a driver fault, so updating device drivers leaves the actual dependency conflict unresolved. Driver updates address hardware compatibility or stability problems, which would be the right step for device errors rather than application load failures.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Troubleshoot: Windows Issues
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.
Key term
Integrity
Integrity is the assurance that data has not been altered or tampered with in an unauthorized way, preserving its accuracy and consistency from source to destination.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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