C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\XINPUT1_3.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media.

Question

Original title: Error 0xc000012f

Hi.

I have a Dell Inspiron laptop running the latest version of Windows 8.1. I have also recently installed the game "Goat simulator" for my entertainment, but every time I open the application, it brings me this error:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\XINPUT1_3.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support. Error status 0xc000012f.

I was assuming that this could be a problem with the way DirectX was installed, so I removed the XINPUT file and reinstalled DirectX. No luck.

I uninstalled Goat Simulator and reinstalled it. No luck.

People have been saying in previous discussions that the answer was removing some update. I tried that method, and I could not find the specified update.

So now I'm confused, angry, and a little bit sad. Can someone please help me find an answer on helping me play this game without it giving me the error? Because I did not just go and waste 10 bucks.

Answer 1

--==ANSWER==--

Hola, once again.

I am happy to say my computer is now fixed. I fixed my computer before reading your post though. Again, thank you for my answer, but I have found my own method on what to do. Here are the steps on how to fix your PC:

Step 1: Delete the XINPUT1_3.dll file from both the System32 file and the SysWOW64 file. You can delete these by:

1. Move your mouse into a corner on the right side of the screen, and select "Search"
2. Type in "C:" then hit enter.
3. Navigate to the "Windows folder", then go into the System32 folders and SysWOW64 folders, and delete the DLL files.
4. Restart your PC.

Once that's done, move on to..

Step 2: Delete the X3DAudio1_7.dll file from the same locations, System32 and SysWOW64. Refer to the directions above, and do the same for this file.

Then, restart your PC.

Step 3: Go the link as follows and reinstall DirectX web installer: 

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Once it is installed, restart your computer.

Once your computer is booted back up ,your issue should be fixed. Or that's how I did it, anyways. Hope this helped.

If you have any problem or my method didn't fix yours, tell me your problem on this post.

--==ANSWER==--

Answer 2

Hi,

Thank you for the detailed information.

Are you using a 3rd party antivirus application on your computer?

We have to diagnose the issue to find the issue cause and right resolution. Refer to these issue diagnosing methods and check the issue status.

Method 1:

Uninstall the update if it is installed on your computer and check the issue status.

HartleySpurlock’s post replied on October 15, 2013 from the following and check if it helps.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_update/after-update-messages-error-status-0xc000012f/8f0b494d-e629-43c4-8d74-82bf99e59b95

Method 2: Keep the computer in a clean boot and check it helps in fixing the issue. This will help you if the there is a software conflict.

How to perform a clean boot to troubleshoot a problem in Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note: Please refer to the section: “How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot” of the Kb article to boot the computer in normal startup after fixing the issue.

Method 3:

I would also suggest you to check the event viewer for the details error report, follow the steps provided to check the Event viewer logs.

a) Move the mouse to the bottom left corner and right-click on the start.

b) Select ‘Event Viewer’ and click an event log in the left pane.

c) Expand ‘Windows logs’ and click on ‘System’ to check for the logs.

d) Provide the system log files.

Refer to the following link, the information provide in the following link is applicable to Windows 8.1 as well.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-information-event-logs-event-viewer#1TC=windows-7

Hope the information helps. Let us know if you need further assistance with Windows related issues. We will be happy to help.

Answer 3

Hi, again.

I have tested all of the methods that you have provided to me to open my Goat Simulator application. Unfortunately, none of the methods you gave me worked. If you're wondering why, I'll tell you what I did and why I couldn't do it:

So I tried Method 1:

Method 1 was going through the update log to find a certain update and uninstall it. I followed the directions I could find on HartleySpurlock’s post. When I was searching through the update log, all of the updates began with KB29, none beginning with the letters KB28, which was supposively the update I needed to uninstall. Alas, no luck here.

So I tried Method 2:

Method 2 was performing a clean boot on my PC. I followed your steps to the best of my ability. When I disabled all of the applications from starting up, and rebooted my PC, I tried opening Goat Simulator. Error screen. Same one. So I enabled all of the programs and rebooted. Opened Goat Simulator. Error screen.

So I tried Method 3:

This method was a little too confusing for me. I checked through the logs looking for errors when the only errors I could find were Multi - touch errors. Then the application crashed. So I tried to open it, but when I did, it cleared the logs. I still remember some information from the errors. Whenever I try to open goat simulator, it gives me the error screen. I was hoping that every time the error screen popped up it would send something to the logs, but no luck.

So here I am.

I'm no technology expert (Unlike you, you're a life saver) but I think it could have been how DirectX was installed. I've looked on help forums for this problem and a lot of them say that it just straight up says the XINPUT1_3.dll file is just missing. And a lot of them say, with the other error, (The one that says it can't run on Windows) It's only on Windows 7, and it's for other applications such as Dropbox.

Anyways, thanks so much for your help. Even though it didn't work, I could need all the advice I could get.

Answer 4

Install the game using the compatibility mode and check the issue status. Refer to these links:

Making older programs compatible with this version of Windows.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/older-programs-compatible-version-windows

What is program compatibility?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/what-program-compatibility

Hope this information helps you. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.

Answer 5

Hi,

Thank you for the sharing valuable information here, this might help others if they come across same issue.

Please do let us know if you need any help with Windows related issues, we're here to assist you.