Steam.exe - Bad Image

Question

Hello! I am using a windows 7 computer. I have encountered an error of "Steam.exe - Bad Image" which states : "C:\windows\System32\wow64win.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error . . . for support."
i want help to fix this, and not only for steam does this error occur but for apps like spotify, discord, etc too. I would be very grateful to you if you get this fixed! Thanks!

Answer 1

You can try doing a clean install of Windows 10 (or use the method in my previous reply if you want to keep your data)

Refer the following for doing a clean install:

Start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 10 - Microsoft

Answer 2

How did it fail? Did it showed any error?

Also, did you had Windows 7 pre-installed on your PC?

Before upgrading, you should make sure you meet the system requirements.

You can try upgrading again. If that fails too, you should use the Create an installation medium for another device option from the media creation tool.

Insert a blank USB into the PC (with at least 4 to 8 GB of space) and select it using the tool. All data in the USB will be deleted.

After the tool completes it's process, keep the USB inserted and boot from it.

Install Windows manually using it.

Answer 3

Well, you see, i tried to upgrade to windows 10 for free with the media creation tool,but the setup failed. It took a lot of time just for it to fail. Now it gave me an ungenuine windows 7 copy , so it is not licensed anymore. Why do we have through this at the first place anyways. Facepalm.

Answer 4

You don't just download Windows 10.

You may or may not still get 10 for free, but you first have to see if 10 is compatible with your device.

The free upgrade to Windows 10 offer from Microsoft expired on the 29th July, 2016.

You will have to contact MS support and they may be able to assist you with a free upgrade to 10..

Also read this information:

All the Ways You Can Still Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free

Here's how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade | ZDNet

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Windows 10 media creation tool on the Software download page 

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"Start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 10"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10startfresh

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This tutorial will show you step by step on how to do an upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10.

How to Upgrade to Windows 10

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2267-upgrade-windows-10-a.html

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Upgrade to Windows 10: FAQ - Windows Help - Microsoft Support

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Windows 10 supported upgrade paths:

✔ = Full upgrade is supported including personal data, settings, and applications.
D = Edition downgrade; personal data is maintained, applications and settings are removed.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/upgrade/windows-10-upgrade-paths

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First thing to do is to make sure that you have the correct system requirements and that your Computer Manufacturer supplies the correct Drivers for 10 for your Model Number.

Driver Downloads:

Acer:

http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers

Advent:

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/product-downloads

Alienware:

http://support.alienware.com/Support_Pages/Restricted_Pages/driver_downloads.aspx

Asus:

http://www.asus.com/support

Dell:

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/ProductSelector

eMachines:

http://www.emachines.com/ec/en/US/content/drivers

Fujitsu:

http://www.fujitsu.com/us/support/

Gateway:

http://us.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/drivers-downloads

HP:

http://www8.hp.com/us/en/drivers.html

Lenovo:

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/default.page#

LG:

http://www.lg.com/us/support/software-manuals

Samsung:

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads

Sony Vaio:

http://esupport.sony.com/perl/select-system.pl?DIRECTOR=DRIVER

Toshiba:

http://support.toshiba.com/drivers

"Windows 10 System Requirements"

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/3884/windows-10-system-requirements

https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-10-specifications#sysreqs

If you read those Microsoft's system requirements for 10, you will find that if you only go on them you will be sadly disappointed in performance.

For reasonable performance should have at least:

2 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor.

4 gigabyte (GB) of RAM for 32-bit or 8 GB for 64-bit

500GB hard drive

DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver

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Detailed information on Minimum hardware requirements:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/minimum-hardware-requirements-overview

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Some Manufacturers have listed Model Numbers tested with 10 at their website:

Acer - Windows 10 Creators Update

ASUS System Look-up - Find out if your system runs Windows 10.

Dell computers tested for Windows 10 November 2019 Update and previous versions of Windows 10

The following Gateway laptops, desktops and tablets have been tested as being suitable to install Windows 10 Creators Update

HP Products Tested with Windows 10

Lenovo devices tested for Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018

Samsung - Find out if your system runs Windows 10.

Sony - What do I need to install Windows 10 on my PC?

Toshiba - Models tested

Toshiba Windows 10 Upgrade Information

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If you do have to buy Windows 10:

How to buy Windows 10:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/cat/Windows/categoryID.70036700

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If you are upgrading to 10 at least make a system image backup for two reasons.

1. Some people report they don't get the free upgrade and want to reinstall 7.
2. If you don't do the system checks and 10 is incompatible with your device and it becomes inoperable.

These are quite good programs to use for Complete PC Backup and are free:

"EaseUS Todo Backup Free"

http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm

"Welcome to EaseUS Todo Backup Manual"

http://www.todo-backup.com/support/help/

http://www.todo-backup.com/download/docs/User_Guide.pdf

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"Macrium Reflect Free"

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

"Macrium Reflect Tutorial"

http://www.macrium.com/webtutorial/tutorial.asp

Cheers.

Answer 5

Hi

As Windows 7 is out of support, there may be some bugs and malwares. Please upgrade to Windows 10. This might solve your issue.

Make sure your PC meets all the Windows 10 system requirements.

If you have a licensed version of Windows 7 with OEM, you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free.

To upgrade:

1. Backup all your data.
2. Go to Windows 10 download page and click on Download tool now.
3. Run the tool and when prompted, choose Upgrade this PC now.
4. Wait till it finishes. This might take a long time. Your PC will be automatically restarted when the upgrade is complete.