Problem:
I can’t open some of my applications (icons), it’s saying “not a valid Win32 application”.
Solution:
Follow the following steps to fix this “not a valid Win32 application” issue in Windows.
To fix this issue, we are sharing with you 5 methods below. Please apply them one by one and check which one will work in your case. Please share your experience by leaving a comment below.
1. Re-register Shell32.dll File
Shell32.dll is a critical system file in the Windows which is used by the OS whenever you run any executable file. Sometimes, this DLL file gets corrupted or unregistered and to restore its normal operation you must re-register this file in Windows. A lot of times the ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error is caused in Windows because Shell32.dll file has gotten corrupted. Follow the steps given below to re-register this DLL file:
- In the search box, type ‘cmd’ and choose ‘Command Prompt’ from the search results.
- In the Command Prompt, make sure that the path is ‘C:\Windows\System32’, then type the ‘regsvr32 /i shell32.dll’ command and press the ‘Enter’ button on your keyboard.
- You will see the message that shell32.dll has been successfully registered in Register Server, click on the ‘OK’ button.
That’s it, you have re-registered the Shell32.dll file in your Windows. Again, run the file which was giving ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error.
2. Fix it using FixExec Tool (Automatically)
If no other solution is able to fix the ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error, then you can try a free tool named ‘FixExec’. You can use this program to fix executable file associations for the .bat, .com and .exe file extensions. This program restores the association of .bat, .com and .exe file extensions to the original Windows default. Therefore, if any of these file extension associations are hijacked, missing or changed, then FixExec tool will solve the problem. You can get complete information about this tool from its official download page.
- Download the FixExec 32bit or FixExec 64bit version, whichever is applicable in your case.
- Run the downloaded FixExec executable file.
- Wait for the program to complete its operation.
- Click on the ‘OK’ button to allow the program to continue with its operation.
- Wait for the program to finish the resetting process.
- Click on the ‘OK’ button to end the program.
That’s it, you should now try to run the file which was experiencing ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error. Most probably, your problem would have been fixed.
3. Make sure the file is not corrupted – Download the File Once Again
Sometimes files get corrupted while they are being downloaded. Your web browser will show that the download has completed successfully and the file properties will show that its compatible with your OS version, but it’s possible that the file will be corrupted.
Therefore, download the file one more time. If the second time again you get the ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error, then try downloading the file from another website or web page. Sometimes the website hosting the file has mistakenly uploaded a corrupted version of the file and changing the download source can solve your problem.
4. Install File with Administrator Rights
Sometimes files need administrator privileges to properly run themselves on a computer. Therefore, you should try to run your file with admin rights. Follow the steps given below:
- Right click the file which you want to run and choose ‘Run as administrator’ option from the list.
If doing this solves the ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error, then great, otherwise, try the next solution.
5. Install File using Windows Compatible Mode
Most executable files have compatibility mode in them, which allows you to run that file as if it was being run in an older version of Windows. This feature is really helpful when that executable file has been designed to run on a specific version of Windows OS. If this mode is not activated, then such a file has functionality problems, including the ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error. Follow the steps given below to change the compatibility mode of your file:
- Right click the file and select ‘Properties’ from the options.
- In the Properties window, select the ‘Compatibility’ tab and click on the ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for’ option.
- Click the ‘Down arrow’ to view the list of OS versions compatible with this executable file and select the OS version under which you want to run the file. Finally, click on the ‘OK’ button to apply the changes.
If you are unsure about the OS version with which your executable file is compatible, then you can try different OS versions one-by-one. Doing this might solve the ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error you are experiencing.
6. IDE Controller is Improperly Configured
You may get ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error if there is problem with the configuration of the IDE controller on your computer. The IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers should be configured to transfer data in Direct Memory Access (DMA) mode and not in Programmed Input/Output (PIO) mode. Data transfer is faster in the DMA mode than in the PIO mode because DMA mode doesn’t involve CPU and moves data directly to and from RAM. Follow the steps given below to properly configure the IDE controller:
- Click on the ‘Start’ button to open Windows Menu.
- In the Windows Menu, locate and right click on ‘My Computer’, then choose the ‘Properties’ option.
- In the System Properties window, click on the ‘Hardware’ tab.
- In Hardware tab, click on the ‘Device Manager’ button.
- In the Device Manager window, click to expand ‘IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers’ option, then double click on the ‘Primary IDE Channel’ option and/or the ‘Secondary IDE Channel’ option. In our case, we clicked on the ‘Primary IDE Channel’ option.
- In the Primary IDE Channel Properties window, click to choose ‘Advanced Settings’ tab, then make sure that under Device 0 and Device 1 the Transfer Mode is set to ‘DMA if available’ option. Finally, click on the ‘OK’ button to apply the changes.
That’s it, now your IDE Controllers are properly configured and you should try to run the file again which is giving ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error.
7. Verify that File is for 64-bit OS
If the file that you are trying to run is not designed for your Windows version, then also you will get the ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error. Most files are 32-bit compatible, but if you are running Windows 64-bit version, then you must check that the file which is giving error is compatible with 64-bit version. Follow the steps given below to check the compatibility of the file:
- Right click the executable file and choose ‘Properties’ from the options.
- In the Properties window, click on the ‘Compatibility’ tab and check the ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for’ option.
- Click the ‘Down arrow’ to view the list of OS versions compatible with this executable file. If the list of OS starts with Windows Vista as shown in the image below, then your file is compatible with 64-bit OS.
- In this image, you can see that the list of OS starts with Windows 95, which means that this file is compatible with 32-bit versions.
If the file you are trying to run is compatible with Windows 32-bit OS and not Windows 64-bit OS, then this is the cause behind the ‘not a valid Win32 application’ error.
8. Fix corrupted user profiles or create new one
If the above methods did not work for you, then the last possibility is that your computer’s user profile got corrupted. Please try to reset your user profile by following the steps below: If the repair doesn’t work then we finally suggest you to please create a new user profile and transfer all the necessary files into that.
9. Update Windows
If nothing works in your case, then we suggest that you update your Windows and make sure it is up-to-date to fix this issue.
10. Scan your computer for virus infection
This may also occur due to a virus or malware infection. We suggest you to please scan your computer with a good antivirus or anti-malware program. We are suggesting some selected anti-malware software below, please check them out.
Download and run a scan of the following software.
- HitmanPro.
- Malwarebytes.
- Trojan Remover
11. Run SFC /Scannow command
Sometimes, the system file gets corrupted. Please follow the below command to fix any system corruption issue.
- Open the command prompt.
- Type the following command SFC /scannow and then hit the enter button from your keyboard. It will start scanning your computer for scan & fix any system corruption issue.
Not a valid Win32 application error occurs every once in a while, when we run a file having a .exe file extension.Win32 application error occurs in all Windows versions, including Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows XP.
This message may seem puzzling, but it merely implies that your Windows version isn’t able to process the application since it can’t understand what’s in the file.
There are a plethora of issues that may result in the error, which includes corrupt file, incompatible Windows version, virus infection, hardware related issues, and corrupt file system.
This article discusses everything in-depth about how to fix not a valid Win32 application error all the possible issues, the manual solutions, and a bonus, an automatic solution for this inconvenience.
What is a Win32 application?
Win32 apps also referred to as Windows API and WIN32 is the main set of MS Windows APIs to develop 32-bit applications.
Causes of Not a Valid Win32 Application Error in Windows 7
Invalid File Extention:
Each file Extention(.txt, .exe, .jpeg , .png) is associated with a specific program that runs that file.
To fix this, make sure the file has an appropriate extension. If not, rename the executable file with the .exe extension.
Download issues:
There is a possibility that the file(is an incomplete download or) got corrupt during the download.
In that case, redownloading the file solves the error.
If that doesn’t work, inform the website owner about the faulty file.
32-bit and 64-bit version:
Windows comes in 2 versions, the 32-bit, and the 64-bit. The applications made for 32-bit only work with the 32-bit version and vice versa.
Check if you have the correct executable version as your Windows.
Goto Start->This PC(or My Computer)->Right click and select Properties. Check under the System, System Type.
Uninstalled software causing Win32 error:
You may be trying to run an application which is no longer exists on your computer.
To verify, open control panel->Programs and features-> Add or Remove program. Search for the software you are trying to run on the list.
Windows can’t run programs made for other operating systems:
You receive a “not a valid Win32 Application error” if the program you’re trying to run is for other operating systems like Linux or Mac OS.
To solve this, download the software for Windows OS.
IDE Badly Configured causing not a valid Win 32 app error:
- At first, right-click on the “My Computer“->”properties” option.
- Now choose the “Device Manager” option from the left panel.
- After that, choose the option of “IDA ATA/ATAPI controllers.”
- Then, in the sub-option, double click to proceed.
- At last, under the “Advanced Settings” button, change the present exchange mode to DMA for the two devices and not just PIO.
CMD is certainly Not a Valid Win32 Application Error:
- Before installing the software, make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements, and the disk is clean.
- Now press “Windows” key >> Control Panel >> Programs and Features.
- Now look for the program that is showing the Win32 application error.
- After this, click on “Repair.” Adhere to the provided directions to finish the reinstallation of the application.
- Reboot the system to complete the steps.
- Click on the “Windows” >> All Programs >> Accessories >> Command Prompt.
- Choose “Run as Administrator” and enter “defrag – c” at prompt. Hit the Enter key.
- Close the Command Prompt when the process completes.
- At last, click on the “start” button >> “All Programs” >> “Windows Defender” >> “scan“. Select “full scan” to scan the hard drive. Enable the “defender” to identify and fix any system issues and viruses.
Infected File or Viruses:
The executable may have a virus in itself. The antivirus prevents it from installing on your computer.
To fix this, scan the file to verify if it has a virus or reboot the computer in safe mode.
Hardware incompatibility:
Before installing the software, check for its minimum requirements with your system.
If all of the above methods don’t work, then you can use a Windows data recovery software.
Summing Up not a valid Win32 application error:
In this article, we’ve discussed What is a Win32 application the causes and how to fix not a valid Win32 application error in windows 7. If none of the abovementioned techniques works, going for a professional Windows data recovery is better. A user can perform the fixing procedure utilizing this recovery software. This tool delivers an easy to use interface. Anyone can perform the recovering procedure without taking any help from experts.
It also offers rapid recovery information from IDE, EIDE, and SATA devices. Additionally, you can use this product on any version of Windows OS.
How to Fix «Not a Valid Win32 Application» Error in Windows 7
Introduction
The «Not a Valid Win32 Application» error is a common issue that can occur when trying to run a Windows 7 application. This error typically occurs when the application’s.exe file is not valid or has been corrupted. In this article, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to fix this error.
What is a Win32 Application?
Before we dive into the solution, let’s first understand what a Win32 application is. A Win32 application is a software application that uses the Windows API (Application Programming Interface) to create a graphical user interface (GUI) on the Windows operating system. Win32 applications are often used for tasks such as video editing, 3D modeling, and programming.
Why is the «Not a Valid Win32 Application» Error Occurring?
The «Not a Valid Win32 Application» error typically occurs when the Windows operating system encounters an issue with the application’s.exe file. This can be due to various reasons such as:
- The application’s executable file is corrupted or incomplete
- The application’s installation file is damaged or corrupted
- The application’s dependencies are missing or invalid
- The application’s.ini file is corrupted or invalid
Step-by-Step Solution to Fix «Not a Valid Win32 Application» Error
Here are the steps to fix the «Not a Valid Win32 Application» error in Windows 7:
Step 1: Check the Application’s Dependencies
Before attempting to fix the error, it’s essential to check the application’s dependencies. Here are some steps to check:
- Check if the application’s dependencies are installed correctly
- Make sure the application’s dependencies are up-to-date
- Check if any of the application’s dependencies are missing or corrupted
Step 2: Restore the Application’s.exe File
Restoring the application’s.exe file is a straightforward process:
- Go to the application’s installation directory (usually
C:Program Files...Application Name) - Look for the application’s.exe file and check if it’s corrupted or incomplete
- If the.exe file is corrupted, try to repair it by selecting Repair in the Windows Explorer
- If the.exe file is incomplete, try to repair it by selecting Fix corrupted files in the Windows Explorer
Step 3: Check the Application’s.ini File
The.ini file is a crucial component of a Win32 application. Here are some steps to check:
- Go to the application’s installation directory (usually
C:Program Files...Application Name) - Look for the application’s.ini file and check if it’s corrupted or invalid
- If the.ini file is corrupted, try to repair it by selecting Repair in the Windows Explorer
- If the.ini file is invalid, try to recreate it by selecting Create a new file in the Windows Explorer
Step 4: Update the Application’s dependencies
Update the application’s dependencies to ensure they are up-to-date:
- Go to the application’s installation directory (usually
C:Program Files...Application Name) - Check if any of the application’s dependencies are outdated
- Update the dependencies to the latest version
- Go back to the application’s installation directory and check for any new dependencies
Step 5: Try Running the Application Again
Finally, try running the application again to see if the error has been resolved:
- Go to the application’s installation directory (usually
C:Program Files...Application Name) - Select the application’s.exe file
- Run the application
- If the error is resolved, congratulations! You have successfully fixed the «Not a Valid Win32 Application» error.
Additional Tips and Troubleshooting
- If the error persists after following the steps above, try using the Windows Error Reporting (WER) tool to gather more information about the issue
- If the error is related to a specific application, try checking the application’s Windows Registry for any invalid settings or entries
- If the error is related to a specific file or directory, try checking the file’s permissions and ensuring they are correct
Conclusion
Fixing the «Not a Valid Win32 Application» error in Windows 7 can be a challenging task, but with these steps and tips, you should be able to resolve the issue. Remember to always follow the steps in the correct order and to take your time when troubleshooting the issue. If the error persists, you may need to seek further assistance from the application’s developers or a technical expert.
Troubleshooting Table
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Not a Valid Win32 Application | The application’s.exe file is corrupted or incomplete | Restore the.exe file or repair it |
| Not a Valid Win32 Application | The application’s.ini file is corrupted or invalid | Repair the.ini file or recreate it |
| Not a Valid Win32 Application | The application’s dependencies are missing or invalid | Update the dependencies to the latest version |
| Not a Valid Win32 Application | The application’s installation file is damaged or corrupted | Reinstall the application |
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as a diagnostic tool or a guide for fixing errors. If you are unsure about how to fix an error or if it persists after trying the solutions above, it’s recommended to seek further assistance from a technical expert or the application’s developers.
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4 Ways to Fix the “%1 Is Not a Valid Win32 Application” Error
By Linda | Follow |
Last Updated
Have you encountered the “1 is not a valid Win32 application” error when installing a program? Why does this issue happen? How to solve this problem? This post from MiniTool Partition Wizard will show you all.
Many people have reported the “1 is not a valid Win32 application” error and this error has the following variants:
- %1 is not a valid Win32 application.
- [Error 193] %1 is not a valid Win32 application.
- DLL load failed: %1 is not a valid Win32 application.
The specific error message may vary depending on what program you are opening or running, but there must be “%1 is not a valid Win32 application” in the error message.
Why does the error occur? The possible reasons are as follows:
- Incompatibility between the Windows version/type and program.
- Corrupted Installer file.
- Active Firewall.
3 Solutions to .exe Is Not a Valid Win32 Application
How to Fix the “%1 Is Not a Valid Win32 Application” Error
To fix the error, you can try the following methods one by one.
Method 1. Download the Installer File Compatible with the System
In most cases, the “1 is not a valid Win32 application” occurs due to the incompatibility between the Windows version/type and program. Please make sure you have downloaded the right version of the installer file.
- Press Windows key + R to call out the Run box.
- In the Run box, type “msinfo32” and press Enter to open the System Information window.
- In the right pane, check the System Type If the system type is x64, you should download the 64-bit installer file. If the system type is x86, you should download the 32-bit installer file.
Method 2. Run the Program as Administrator
Some programs may need an administrator privilege for running. Giving the administrator privilege may solve the problem. You just need to right-click the installer file and choose Run as administrator. If this method works and this installer file will be used frequently, you can give it a permanent administrator through the following steps:
- Right-click on the installer file and then choose Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab, check the box before “Run this program as an administrator”, and then click the OK button.
Now, you can double-click the program to run it as an administrator directly.
Method 3. Disable Windows Firewall
When you try to install third-party programs, disabling Windows Firewall is a good choice. Here is the guide:
- Open Control Panel.
- Change the View by to Small icons.
- Click Windows Defender Firewall.
- Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
- Check Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommend).
- Click the OK button apply and save changes.
Method 4. Repair the Broken DISM
Some users reported that they have encountered “Aborted – Feature setup [193] %1 is not a valid Win32 application” when they try running the NTLite. Then, they have solved the problem through the following steps:
- Try the following code from the elevated command-line: dism /online /Get-Intl.
- Edit xml in NTLite’s folder before starting it and change code <ForceDismExe>false</ForceDismExe> to <ForceDismExe>true</ForceDismExe>.
- Start the program again.
In most cases, you don’t know the specific cause of the “1 is not a valid Win32 application” error. You should check the program log file to find more information.
[Solved 2022] DISM Failed On Windows 10/8/7 Computer
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Linda has been working as an editor at MiniTool for 5 years. She is always curious about computer knowledge and learns it crazily. Her articles are simple and easy to understand. Even people who do not understand computer can gain something. By the way, her special focuses are disk management, data recovery and PDF editing.
Пользователи Windows 7 и предыдущих версий ОС могут столкнуться с тем, что при запуске какой-либо программы, игры, установщика или любого другого .exe файла появляется ошибка «Не является приложением Win32», причем при появлении ошибки в x64 системах текст ошибки будет тем же — сообщат о том, что это не приложение Win32.
В этой инструкции подробно о возможных причинах появления этой ошибки и что делать в случае, если вы с ней столкнулись, чтобы запустить нужную программу. В Windows 10 эта же ошибка имеет другой вид: Невозможно запустить это приложение на вашем ПК.
- Причины ошибки Не является приложением Win32 и способы исправить проблему
- Видео инструкция
Причины ошибки «Не является приложением Win32» при запуске .exe файлов программ и варианты решения
Есть следующие основные причины, по которым появляется сообщение о том, что запускаемая программа не является приложением Win32:
- У вас установлена 32-бит Windows 7, а вы пробуете запустить файл .exe, предназначенный только для 64-бит Windows.
- Вы загрузили файл .exe для систем с процессорами ARM (часто бывает при скачивании компонентов Visual C++ Redistributable, так как для загрузки представлены могут быть представлены 3 разных файла, один из которых для ARM).
- Запускаемый файл .exe поврежден — например, он был восстановлен с помощью программ для восстановления данных, но его целостность была нарушена, либо причиной являются проблемы с жестким диском, флешкой или другим накопителем, где хранится этот файл.
- Файл изначально не был исполняемым файлом для Windows. Например, если вы просто переименуете любой файл, изменив его расширение на .exe, его не получится запустить и сообщит он именно об этой ошибке — программа не является приложением Win
- Редко — причина в том, что это файл очень старой программы, предназначенной для DOS или ранних версий Windows.
Исходя из этих основных причин, сделать для исправления ошибки «Не является приложением Win32» мы можем не слишком много:
- Если у вас система 32-бит (для того, чтобы посмотреть разрядность, нажмите правой кнопкой по «Мой компьютер» на рабочем столе или «Компьютер» в меню «Пуск» и откройте пункт «Свойства»), то либо найдите файл для 32-бит системы (он может обозначаться не только как 32-bit, но и как x86), либо откажитесь от запуска этого .exe, либо установите 64-бит Windows (придется с нуля устанавливать систему, просто «поменять 32-бит на x64» не получится).
- Если это файл какой-то старой программы, откройте его свойства и на вкладке «Совместимость» попробуйте включить режим совместимости с ранними версиями Windows.
- Не пытайтесь запустить файлы для ARM-процессоров на обычном компьютере, это не получится (кроме случая использования специальных эмуляторов).
- Простое переименование файлов и установка для них расширения .exe не приведет к возможности запуска такого файла. В некоторых установщиках вы можете встретить файлы вида setup.ex_ — как правило, это не файл .exe, а архив, его содержащий (можно попробовать распаковать любым архиватором, предварительно переименовав в .zip).
- Для случая поврежденных файлов решение — найти другой, «целый» файл для запуска. Исправление поврежденных файлов .exe — не то, что обычно получается сделать.
Видео инструкция
Пожалуй, это всё, что вы можете сделать в рассматриваемой ситуации. Если остаются вопросы — задавайте в комментариях, я постараюсь помочь в решении.