Bad Image, Error Status 0xc0000020 on Windows 10

If when you try to launch an application. it fails with the error message Invalid image, error status 0xc0000020, then this message will help you. In this article, we will identify potential causes and then suggest possible solutions to help you resolve this problem. This can happen when launching Outlook or any other program.

Typically, depending on the software or application you are trying to launch, an instance of the error message reads like this;

Software.exe – incorrect image
C: Windows System32 XXXX.dll is not designed to run on Windows or contains an error. Try reinstalling the program using the original installation media, or contact your system administrator or software vendor for assistance. Error status 00xc0000020.

This error occurs when you launch an application and it fails due to the corruption of certain system files required to run the application without problems. As the system files are program files, anything that changes them can lead to corruption. You might meet the Bad image, error status 0xc0000020 error message due to one or more (but not limited to) of the following known causes;

• Incomplete installation or uninstallation of the software.
• Installation of faulty Windows updates.
• Malware attack.
• Incorrect system shutdown.

Regardless of the software in question, the patch applies to everyone.

Bad image, error status 0xc0000020

If you are faced with this Bad image, error status 0xc0000020 problem, you can try our recommended solutions below in no particular order and see if it helps to fix the problem.

1. Resave the DLL file
2. Start SFC / DISM analysis
3. Uninstall and reinstall the particular program
4. Perform system restore
5. Run the Windows 10 Fresh Start process.

Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved in relation to each of the solutions listed.

1]Resave the DLL file

As you can see, the file extension of the software that generates this error is a Dynamic link library (dll). A dynamic link library (DLL) is a module that contains functions and data that can be used by another module (application or DLL). DLLs provide a way to modularize applications so that their functionality can be updated and reused more easily. DLLs also help reduce memory overhead when multiple applications use the same functionality at the same time, because although each application receives its own copy of the DLL data, the applications share the DLL code.

So if a DLL file like say, olmapi21.dll, wininet.dll, etc. can be identified, you can try to re-register the DLL file and see if the problem is resolved.

2]Start SFC / DISM analysis

If the error message is triggered by corrupt or damaged system files, running the SFC / DISM scan can help resolve the problem.

For ease and convenience, you can run the analysis using the procedure below.

Open Notepad – copy and paste the command below into the text editor.

@echo off
date /t & time /t
echo Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
echo ...
date /t & time /t
echo Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
echo ...
date /t & time /t
echo SFC /scannow
SFC /scannow
date /t & time /t
pause

Save the file with a name and add it .bat file extension – for example; SFC_DISM_scan.bat.

Run the batch file repeatedly with administrator privileges (right click on the saved file and select Execute as administrator from the context menu) until it reports no error – in which case you can now restart your PC and see if the problem has been resolved. If it is still not resolved, go to the next solution.

3]Uninstall and reinstall the particular program

In this solution, if this error started to appear after installing software, you can uninstall the program and see if it helps.

After uninstalling the software, restart your system, reinstall the program, and see if this problem is resolved.

4]Perform system restore

You can restore your computer to a good point and see if that helps to fix the problem for you.

5]Run the Windows 10 Fresh Start process

Bacup your data externally, then run Fresh Start. Available in the Windows security application, Fresh Start does the following:

1. Keep all your data,
2. Remove all third party apps,
3. Force Windows 10 updates to the latest version.

This means that all of your product keys, application-related content, and any third-party antivirus will be deleted.

I hope one of these solutions will solve the problem for you!