Fix Bad Image Error – Application.exe is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error

Fix Bad Image Error – Application.exe is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error:  Windows 10 Bad Image Error is seriously a very annoying issue because you can’t open any application. And as soon as you open any program the error may appear with a description like: “C:\Program Files\Windows Portable Devices\xxxx.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.” Well, that’s a very long message with no or very little information and which leads us to several possibilities as to why this error is occurring.

Fix Bad Image Error – Application.exe is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error

Fix Bad Image Error – Application.exe is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error

Without wasting any time let’s see how to fix this issue:

Method 1: Run CCleaner and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

1. Download and install CCleaner.

2. Double-click on the setup.exe to start the installation.

Once download is complete, double-click on the setup.exe file

3. Click on the Install button to start the installation of CCleaner. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Click on Install button to install CCleaner

4. Launch the application and from the left-hand side menu, select Custom.

5. Now see if you need to checkmark anything other than the default settings. Once done, click on Analyze.

Launch the application and from the left-hand side menu, select Custom

6. Once the analysis is complete, click on the “Run CCleaner” button.

Once the analysis is complete, click on the Run CCleaner button

7. Let CCleaner run its course and this will clear all cache and cookies on your system.

8. Now, to clean your system further, select the Registry tab, and ensure the following are checked.

To clean your system further, select the Registry tab, and ensure the following are checked

9. Once done, click on the “Scan for Issues” button and allow CCleaner to scan.

10. CCleaner will show the current issues with Windows Registry, simply click on the Fix selected Issues button.

click on Fix selected Issues button | Fix Unable to connect to the proxy server in Windows 10

11. When CCleaner asks “Do you want backup changes to the registry?” select Yes.

12. Once your backup has completed, select Fix All Selected Issues.

13. Reboot your PC to save changes.

If this doesn’t fix the issue then run Malwarebytes and let it scan your system for harmful files.

Method 2: Run System File Checker (SFC) Tool

1. Press Windows Key + X then click on Command Prompt (Admin).

Right-click on Windows Button and select Command Prompt (Admin)

2. Now type the following in the cmd and hit enter:

Sfc /scannow

sfc scan now command

3. Let the system file checker run and then restart your PC.

Method 3: Run Microsoft safety scanner

If it’s a virus infection then it is recommended to run the Microsoft safety scanner and check if it helps. Make sure to disable all antivirus and security protection when running the Microsoft safety scanner.

If this doesn’t help then in some cases where the system is affected because of the malware. It is recommended to remove malware from your system.

Scan your System for Viruses | Remove Malware from your PC in Windows 10

Method 4: Run Startup/Automatic Repair

1. Insert the Windows 10 bootable installation DVD and restart your PC.

2. When prompted to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, press any key to continue.

Press any key to boot from CD or DVD

3. Select your language preferences, and click Next. Click Repair your computer in the bottom-left.

Repair your computer

4. On choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.

Choose an option at windows 10 automatic startup repair

5. On Troubleshoot screen, click Advanced option.

select advanced option from troubleshoot screen

6. On the Advanced options screen, click Automatic Repair or Startup Repair.

automatic repair or startup repair

7. Wait till the Windows Automatic/Startup Repairs complete.

8. Restart and you have successfully Fix Bad Image Error – Application.exe is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error, if not, continue.

Method 5: Fix Chrome.exe Bad Image error message

Error message: Chrome.exe – Bad Image. A particular file is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. 
Error status 0xc000012f.

1. Click on three dots icon available at the top right corner.

Open Google Chrome then click on the three vertical dots

2. Click on the Settings button from the menu opens up.

Click on the Settings button from the menu

3. Scroll down at the bottom of the Settings page and click Advanced.

Scroll down then click on the Advanced link at the bottom of the page

4. As soon as you click on Advanced, from the left-hand side click on “Reset and clean up“.

5. Now under Reset and clean up tab, click on Restore settings to their original defaults.

A Reset and Clean up option will also be available on the bottom of the screen. Click on Restore Settings to their original defaults option under the Reset and clean up option.

6. Below dialog box will open up which will give you all the details about what restoring Chrome settings will do.

Note: Before proceeding read the given information carefully as after that it may lead to loss of some important information or data.

Reset Chrome to Fix Unable to connect to the proxy server in Windows 10

7. After making sure that you want to restore Chrome to its original settings, click on the Reset settings button.

8. If above doesn’t solve your problem then navigate to the following folder:

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data

9. Next, find the folder Default and rename it to Default backup.

rename default folder in google chrome

10. Again open Chrome to check if the problem is resolved or not.

11. Click Chrome Menu button then select Help and click on About Google Chrome.

Click on About Google Chrome

12. Make sure it’s up to date or else update it.

Update Google Chrome to Fix Unable to connect to the proxy server in Windows 10

13. If nothing helps, then you may have to consider uninstalling Chrome and installing a fresh copy.

Method 6: Repair Microsoft Office Bad Image Error

1. Search for Control Panel in Windows Search then click on the search result.

Navigate to Start Menu Search Bar and search for Control panel

2. Now click on Uninstall a program.

3. From there find Microsoft Office and then right-click on it and select Change.

4. Select Repair and click Next.

select repair in microsoft office

5. Let the repair run in the background as it can take some time to complete.

repair office in process

6. Once done click close and restart your PC to save changes.

Method 7: Run System Restore or Windows Repair Install

Sometimes using System Restore can help you repair problems with your PC, so follow this guide to restore your computer to an earlier time.

How to use System Restore on Windows 10

If the System Restore doesn’t work then you need to use Windows Repair Install as a last resort because if nothing works out then this method will surely repair all problems with your PC. Repair Install just using an in-place upgrade to repair issues with the system without deleting user data present on the system. So follow this article to see How to Repair Install Windows 10 Easily.

That’s it you have successfully Fix Bad Image Error – Application.exe is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error but if you still have any question regarding this article then please feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.

5 thoughts on “Fix Bad Image Error – Application.exe is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error”

  1. I’d like to use these methods but for some reason I cannot install programs without a bad image error. I cannot install malwarebyes or ccleaner or even Google chrome. Ive been trying to find a solution for days now and have not found one. Can you please help.

  2. Avatar photo
    BrokenEye, the True False Prophet

    I tried method 1. The scan got to “Verification 58% complete” and then told me “Windows Resource Protection could not preform the requested operation”. Tried it again, same result at exactly 58%. What the hell?

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