vsstrace.dll error

[CU]

I am trying to install Craft The World on my son's computer. When I do I see the MS Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x86) start to install, but then I get a error dialog box pop up. The title is vcredist_x86.exe - Bad Image. The body is C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\VssTrace.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 0xc0000020. This same error also occurred when I tried to update his AMD gpu drivers. And, when I tried to repair the vcredist by downloading it from MS and running it. Is the problem with vcredist or vsstrace.dll? And, how do I fix it?

I also ran Malwarebytes and it came back clean.

One last thing. The AMD drivers, vcredist, and Craft The World finish installing after the vsstrace.dll error. However, Craft The World will not load. I can see the icon in the task bar for a split second and then it just disappears. I assume it is related to the error.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Sounds like your system is unstable. Either bad RAM, bad storage, or CPU not operating within specifications.

Is the system overclocked by any chance?

HDD or SSD?

 

[CU]

Not overclocked and it is an SSD. No other problems besides this. Wouldn't even have noticed it if I hadn't tried to install that game.

 

[Ketchup]

Several fixes listed here:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/248390/discussions/0/541907867766327092/

 

[CU]

I have already tried, I think every thing listed in that thread. The appdata craft the world directory is empty except for a lang file. So, it isn't even getting far enough to write anything the first time it runs. No compatibility mode or run as administrator helps. I also got the game from GOG which was also suggested on the steam forum.

 

[CU]

I also tried copying the appdata folder from a working install on another computer with no luck. I don't see any error in the windows event viewer when I try to run it either. I really don't know if the game not running is related to the vsstrace.dll error or not.

 

[Ketchup]

Ok. What version of Windows and when was Windows Update last run?

 

[CU]

It is running Windows 10 64bit. I checked windows update last night. It is up to date.

 

[CU]

Windows 10 version 1703 (OS Build 15063.413).

 

[Ketchup]

Creators update. Yeah, make sure you have the latest video drivers.

Did you get the game from steam or somewhere else?

 

[CU]

Updated the AMD drivers yesterday to see if that would help. Running whql-win10-64bit-radeon-software-crimson-relive-17.4.4-may3 on an R250. Got the game from GOG. It is running find on two other computers here.

 

[Ketchup]

Have you tried gog support?
Http://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/213039045

 

[CU]

I didn't try the GOG downloader. But, I did download it twice and copied it once from a computer where it works fine on. I have never seen a binary die this quickly, but work find on other computers.

 

[CU]

I fixed the vsstrace.dll issue. The one in the syswow64 directory was zero bytes. I replaced it with one from another computer and now I don't get the error message anymore.

Although that didn't fix the game. I also ran ccleaner to clean up the registry and copied the installed game directory from another computer to make sure it was extracted correctly. Neither fixed it. I haven't tried gog's galaxy software yet. But, unless it pulls a different binary or something I don't see how that will fix it.