The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000017)

Rewritten: Windows 10/11 has been popular since its launch in 2015, but like any other commercial software, it also has flaws. One such issue is the “The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000017)” error, which is not a bug but an error that occurs on the operating system.

If you launch the Task Manager or Registry Editor and you see the “The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000017)” error message, then this post is for you. Here, we give insights on what to do about the “The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000017)” on Windows 10/11.

About “The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000017)” on Windows 10/11

There are several reasons why this error message appears on Windows 10/11 devices, but the common cause is a program that is incompatible with your operating system architecture. For instance, you try to run a 32-bit application on a 64-bit system.

Another possible cause of the “The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000017)” error is that you don’t have sufficient virtual and physical memory for certain applications to work. When you launch an app, it will require a specific amount of memory to work. If your computer can’t allocate it, then this error may be thrown.

Lastly, this issue may arise after installing a problematic Windows Update. There are instances when Microsoft rolls out faulty updates, resulting in errors like this.

How to Fix “The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000017)”

Many guides ask you to do unnecessary things, but in truth, there are only a few solutions for this. We’ve enumerated them below. Before you do anything, we suggest creating a restore point first. This way, you can easily restore your files and settings in case anything goes wrong.

To create a restore point, do the following:

1. Go to Control Panel.
2. Input system restore into the search field.
3. Select Create a restore point. This will launch the System Properties window.
4. Next, click Create to access the System Protection window.
5. Give it a name.
6. Hit the Create button. The creation of a restore point may take a minute or less.
7. Once done, you should see the message, “The restore point was created successfully.”
8. Click Close.

After creating a restore point, you may now proceed with any of the solutions below.

Solution #1: Clear bad memory

To fix the error, you may try to remove or clear bad memory. Here’s how to do so:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Into the command line, input the bcdedit /enum all command and hit Enter. This command will display all the memory locations that are considered “bad”.
3. Clear the list by typing the bcdedit /deletevalue {badmemory} badmemorylist command and hit Enter.
4. Close Command Prompt and reboot your Windows device.

Solution #2: Repair Windows 10/11 using a bootable media

It is possible to repair Windows 10/11 by using a bootable media. For a detailed guide on how to do so, follow the instructions below:

1. Download the Windows 10/11 ISO. You can obtain it from the official Microsoft website. Navigate to the Windows 10/11 Disc Image page to download the ISO file for installing or reinstalling Windows 10/11.
2. Create a bootable USB or DVD drive. For this, you will need a blank drive or DVD with at least 8 GB of free space. To create the installation media, navigate to the official software download site, where you will find the step-by-step guide. Select your preferred Windows version and follow the onscreen prompts.
3. Once you have created a bootable media, boot from it and select the Repair your computer option.
4. Under the Advanced Troubleshooting option, select Startup Repair.

Solution #3: Run the program with administrator privilege

Often times, the error message appears because of the lack of administrative privilege for the application. So, to get rid of the error, right-click on the program and select Run as Administrator. If prompted by the UAC, hit Yes. This should allow you to run the program smoothly.

Solution #4: Reinstall the app

Sometimes, reinstalling the application or program can resolve the error. While reinstalling, make sure you turn off your antivirus suite temporarily and double-check any additional software program being bundled. This way, you can ensure that no unnecessary program is installed with the app.

To reinstall an app in Windows 10/11, here’s what you should do:

1. Open the Settings app and navigate to Apps > Apps & Features.
2. Find Microsoft Store and click on it.
3. Select Advanced Options.
4. Go to the Reset section and hit the Reset button.
5. Click the Reset button once again to reset the app.

After reinstalling the app, make sure to enable your antivirus program once again to protect your computer from malicious entities.

Solution #5: Update the .NET Framework

Like the error 0x80070643, there are instances when the .NET Framework triggers the appearance of this error message. So, updating it to the latest version may eliminate the error.

To update .NET Framework, do the following:

1. Go to Control Panel and select Programs and Features.
2. Select the Turn Windows features on or off This will open another window with a list of all Windows features.
3. Choose .NET Framework 3.5 and hit OK.
4. At this point, the latest .NET Framework version should be downloaded. Once it is done, your PC should restart and the error is resolved.

Solution #6: Update an outdated xinput1_3.dll file

Although this solution seems quite technical as it requires replacing the xinput1_3.dll file, it has worked for many affected users. Therefore, it’s worth trying.

Here’s a guide on what to do:

1. Download the xinput1_3.dll file from Google.
2. Use Winrar to extract the files.
3. Copy the xinput1_3.dll file from the newly extracted folder. And then, paste it into the SysWOW64 folder.
4. When asked to confirm the replacement, click the Copy and Replace button.

Solution #7: Run the CHKDSK command

You may also try running the CHKDSK command to check your hard drive for problems and fix them. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Input cmd into the search field.
3. Right-click on the most relevant search result and select Run as Administrator. This will launch an elevated Command Prompt utility.
4. Type the chkdsk /f /r command and hit Enter.
5. You will now be asked whether or not you wish to schedule the scan. To confirm, input Y and hit Enter.
6. Restart your PC.
7. Once your computer boots up, the command will execute. It will scan your device’s hard drive. After the scan, your computer will boot normally.

Solution #8: Update Windows

In some cases, installing the latest Windows 10/11 Update has resolved the error. Should you wish to try this solution, refer to the guide below:

1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to launch Settings.
2. Select Update and Security and click Windows Update.
3. Choose the Check for Updates option and allow Windows to check for any pending update.
4. Once the update is downloaded, hit Install.

Solution #9: Replace the physical RAM

If the above solutions cannot resolve the issue, you may have to replace the actual RAM module with a new one. If your computer is still under warranty, take it to the manufacturer and have the RAM replaced. Otherwise, you need to secure a new RAM that is compatible with your motherboard.

Wrapping Up

If you encounter the “The Application Was Unable to Start Correctly (0xc0000017)” error on Windows 10/11, fret not. Many users have encountered it before. And the good news is that they were able to get rid of it using the solutions above. So, just refer to this article and the problem should be resolved in no time.

What other Windows errors have you encountered before? Share them in the comment section and we’ll try to help you resolve them in our future articles!