Any operating system is not immune to errors. Some of them can be critical when the computer completely loses its functionality, and some may relate only to some elements of the system. The second, of course, is the lesser of two evils, and they will be discussed in this article. Of course, it will be more accurate to say that we will talk about what msvcp120.dll is, how this error appears and how to fix it. In any case, after reading the article you will learn about the very essence of this library and how to deal with problems caused by its absence.
Definition
Of course, it would be wise to start the article directly with the definition, because to solve the problem you need to know what we are dealing with.
So what is msvcp120.dll? This is a component of the Visual C ++ 2013 package. The package itself is responsible for correctly displaying software using this programming language in the system. Accordingly, the msvcp120.dll library itself is responsible for the same. Based on this, we can assume that when the error "Cannot start, msvcp120.dll is missing" appears, it means that the Visual C ++ 2013 distribution kit is missing on the computer.
With the definition we figured out. Now that we know what msvcp120.dll is, we can go directly to the causes of the error associated with this library.
Causes of error
Earlier we said that the error appears due to the lack of an appropriate library. But it’s also worthwhile to understand why the system does not find this library on the computer.
You can immediately say that software vendors should always provide all the necessary packages to run their products. That is, if you downloaded, for example, a game that uses the Visual C ++ programming language, then there must be a corresponding package with it. However, some distributors neglect this to reduce the size of the downloadable content.
Fortunately, the necessary packages and libraries can be installed on the computer yourself. How to do this, we’ll talk a little lower, and now we’ll continue to understand the causes of the error “Cannot start, msvcp120.dll is missing”.
Most often, an error occurs when you reinstall your operating system. The fact is that in the standard set of software all the components necessary for the correct operation of most programs and games are absent. This is due to the fact that third-party developers are engaged in their development, and Microsoft simply does not have the right to include these packages in its distribution.
There may also be cases of virus infection of the file. In this case, any antivirus moves the infected library to quarantine, where it simply cannot function. Viruses can also corrupt the file. In this case, even after removing the virus, the file will still not be located by the system.
These were the most common cases, but there are many more, and each time the reason is different. It is impossible to list everything, since they are individual and depend on the actions of the user.
Bug fix
After we figured out what msvcp120.dll is and because of what an error appears due to the absence of this file, we can proceed directly to its solution.
Fortunately, there are quite a few ways, four articles will be presented in this article. We have already talked about the Visual C ++ package, this will be the first solution method. We also talk about the use of special programs that will help eliminate this malfunction. Well, in the end, imagine a manual method that can help if everyone else fails.
Method One: Install Visual C ++ 2013
It’s worth mentioning right away that this particular method, associated with installing the Visual C ++ 2013 package in the system, is the most correct and safe. We have already said that the msvcp120.dll library is part of this package, therefore, installing it, you will install the desired file. And it is considered safe because the package itself is provided by Microsoft, that is, the chance to install poor-quality software is zero. Now we will describe in detail how to fix msvcp120.dll error by installing the appropriate package.
In principle, the scheme is clear: you need to download the package, and then install it. Pretty simple. However, here there are some nuances that can lead to a deterioration in the performance of the computer. The main one is to download it correctly. More precisely, in downloading the desired package. You need Visual C ++ 2013, and not some other. You also need to know where to download it, because unreliable sources can distribute malicious software with it. But it's okay, detailed instructions will now be provided on how to download and install the Visual C ++ 2013 package.
Open any search engine.
In the search bar, type "download visual c ++ 2013".
Search.
In the results, click on the link named microsoft.com.
On the page that appears, select the language of your system from the list.
Click on the “Download” button.
Note that the link needs to be clicked only if its address starts with microsoft.com - this is the official website of the developer. After clicking on "Download", the download will begin. Wait for it to finish and run the downloaded file. Next, to complete the installation, you need to:
At the first stage, agree with the license agreement by clicking on the appropriate indicator.
Click the "Install" button.
Wait for the installation process to complete.
Click the "Finish" button.
Now the package is installed on your computer, and all games and programs that have not been launched before will start working properly.
Method Two: DLL-Files.com
Undoubtedly, the above-described method is quite simple, however, it may also seem impossible to an inexperienced user. In this case, there is a second method how to fix msvcp120.dll. It implies the use of a special program that automatically downloads and installs the desired library to the computer. She just needs to say what exactly is needed.
Since you need a program to follow the instructions, initially download and install it on your computer. After open and follow these steps:
On the initial screen, type msvcp120.dll in the center of the search bar.
Search by clicking on the appropriate button.
After the results are displayed, click on the one that is needed.
Click the Install button.
That's all. Four points, after which the necessary file will be downloaded to the system. After that, it will be possible to run programs and games that previously issued an error without any problems.
Method Three: DLL Suite
Continuing the theme of special programs, one cannot but mention DLL Suite. It is also a convenient tool for installing missing libraries. In the same way as last time, initially download and install this software on your computer, then start it and perform the following manipulations:
In the sidebar, go to the "Download DLL" category.
In the search box, enter the name of the desired dll-file and click "Search".
In the results, click on the option.
Click the Download button next to the required library.
In the window that appears, pave the path to the directory where the library will be installed. If you do not know for sure, then leave it as it is.
Click OK.
As you can see, there are a few more points than the previous time, but the result is the same. After their execution, non-working programs will start without problems.
Method Four: Manual Installation
You can fix msvcp120.dll error in Windows manually, without using any programs. This is done quite simply. You need to download the file itself from the Internet, and then move it along the path C: \ Windows \ System32. It’s not worth describing this procedure in detail, since even an inexperienced user knows how to upload and move files.
Conclusion
Now you know not only what msvcp120.dll is, but also how to fix the error associated with this library. There are four options to choose from, which to one degree or another differ from each other, which one to use - only you choose.