Bad Image Error in Windows Got Busted

Vikas Windows

Bad Image Error appears at different intervals – while opening an application, during the Windows login, logoff and lastly during the shutdown. This error is basically caused due to incorrect changes in the computer’s Registry. These erroneous changes can easily be rectified by performing a thorough Registry scan.

Revert Incorrect Changes in Registry

Some recent changes in the Registry made by Norton Antivirus can reportedly cause this issue. First, determine the string that contains the wrong file path, and then replace it with the full path to ListSvc.dll.

  1. Open Registry Editor using RegEdit command in the Run dialog.
  2. This opens up a new window. Click Edit and then choose Find.
  3. In the “Find what” textbox type the following search query (bullet point). Make sure all three checkboxes (Keys, Values and Data) in the Look at section are checked.
    • C:\ProgramData\{9A88E103-A20A-4EA5-8636-C73B709A5BF8}\ListSvc.dll
  4. Click Find Next.
  5. The search process may take several minutes. Be patient and let it conclude.
  6. Once it highlights the requisite string, double-click it.
  7. Replace it with the following:
    • %SystemRoot%\System32\ListSvc.dll
  8. Click OK. Exit out of the screen and restart your system.

 

Rollback Recent Updates

You might have recently updated the below-mentioned drivers using Device Manager. Or the system might have automatically downloaded them as a part of scheduled updates. Restore earlier driver versions using the driver rollback option in Device Manager.

  1. Press Windows Key + X; choose Device Manager.
  2. Expand the top node.
  3. Look for the following drivers:
    • Realtek Ethernet Controller Driver
    • WIDCOMM Bluetooth Software
  4. Right-click both each of these drivers and then choose Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver button.
  5. Exit and restart your system upon the driver rollback completion.

 

Reinstall .NET Framework

Microsoft .NET Framework components are deeply integrated into your OS. Sometimes they get corrupted and cause the bad image error. Reinstalling Microsoft .NET Framework should fix the problem.

  1. Type “Windows Features” in the Search Box on your Taskbar.
  2. Open “Turn Windows Features on or off” from Search Results.
  3. This will open up a new dialog. Uncheck the following:
    .NET Framework <Version>
  4. Click OK. Now follow the on-screen instructions and finally reboot.

 

Reinstall Microsoft DirectX

Typically the DirectX setup file is located in the game installation folder in a subfolder named as “Redist”. Use the Search feature in File Explorer (upper right corner textbox) to find that folder. Run the file and perform a reinstallation.

Example: For Battlefield 4, DirectX setup file is located in:

  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Battlefield 4\_Installer\DirectX\Redist