Windows 10 Side-by-Side Configuration Is Incorrect: Repairing Programs That Cannot Find Their Runtime

A program refuses to start and shows: “The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail.” When Windows 10 side-by-side configuration is incorrect stops a program, it cannot find the exact version of a shared library it was built to use.

Many programs depend on Microsoft Visual C++ runtime libraries. Different programs need different versions, and Windows keeps several versions installed side by side so each program gets the one it expects. A small file called a manifest tells Windows which version to load.

If that version is missing, damaged, or the manifest points to slot88 something that does not exist, Windows stops the program and shows this error.

Installing the right Visual C++ package fixes most cases.

The error often appears with older games and business software that were written years ago and expect an exact Visual C++ version from that time.

What Might Be Causing It

The error appears for these reasons:

• The required Visual C++ Redistributable version is missing.
• An installed Visual C++ package is damaged.
• The program’s manifest file is incorrect or corrupted.
• The program was copied from another PC without its runtime.

Both the 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions may be needed, even on 64-bit Windows.

First Steps to Try

Find out what is missing.

1. Press Windows + R, type eventvwr, and press Enter.
2. Open Windows Logs > Application and look for a SideBySide error at the time the program failed.
3. Read the details, which usually name a Visual C++ version such as Microsoft.VC90.CRT.
4. Download that Visual C++ Redistributable from Microsoft’s website, installing both x86 and x64 versions.
5. Restart and try the program again.

VC80 refers to Visual C++ 2005, VC90 to 2008, and VC100 to 2010.

If the Problem Continues

Repair or reinstall components.

1. Open Settings > Apps, select each Visual C++ Redistributable, choose Modify, and select Repair.
2. Uninstall and reinstall the program that shows the error.
3. Open an administrator Command Prompt and type sxstrace trace -logfile:sxs.etl, start the program, then press Enter to stop.
4. Type sxstrace parse -logfile:sxs.etl -outfile:sxs.txt and open sxs.txt to see the exact missing component.
5. Run sfc /scannow if many programs show the same error.

Protect Your Data First

Install Visual C++ packages only from Microsoft. Do not uninstall older runtime versions to “clean up,” because other programs may still depend on them.

The Bottom Line

Side-by-side errors mean a program cannot find the Visual C++ version it needs. Check Event Viewer for the version, install or repair that redistributable, and reinstall the program.