Elemental won't start - "this application has failed to run because its side by side configuration is incorrect"

A little additional info might be helpful.

System specs and windows version?

Did elemental previously run or did you just get it?

What firewall/antivirus are you running while impulse is downloading/installing elemental?

 This is an HP Pavilion laptop, with a Turion X2 64-bit processor, running Vista 64-bit. I disabled my antivirus and firewall before downloading and installing Elemental. I just got the game yesterday, and the problem manifested itself just as soon as I tried to run it.

MMkay.. well. I honestly have 0 experience with this particular issue however.

Look in the Event Viewer under Window Logs/Application for a SideBySide error entry. It should give you some clue as
 to what exactly is causing the issue.Put it up here and maybe we can help.

Or if you just wanna skip that start a support ticket https://esupport.stardock.com/ .If you keep replying to the 
ticket, it will get moved to the bottom of the queue so try to include all the info you gave + any extra info you think will
 help in the ticket.  

 Ok, got it. This is what the log says for that particular entry:

Activation context generation failed for "C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\Elemental\Elemental.exe". Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC80.CRT,processorArchitecture="x86",publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b",type="win32",version="8.0.50727.4053" could not be found. Please use sxstrace.exe for detailed diagnosis.

 And btw, I'm fairly well-studied in computer tech, so don't be afraid to get technical on me.

riley-kadin, the way I read this error message is that you are missing the file 'microsoft.vc80.crt' which (from memory it is part of the dotnet 3.5), but you might need to get the dotnet 4.0 to sort it out.

I had also seen this during one of the patches of sins of a solar empire, and it took the dotnet 4.0 to fix it for me

harpo

 Great, just woke up and ready to take another crack at it. Ok, I'll try the .net framework 4

Outside of that i'm pretty much out of my element on this one, but i'm sure there's other users here like harpo who are more familiar with this issue.

 Hehe, "out of your ELEMENT" huh? Yeah, if this one doesn't work, I'll check to see if Vista is completely up to date.

 EDIT: Ok, quick update here... my Vista install is indeed at SP2. I downloaded the .net framework 4, but it didn't fix the problem. And, finally, I think I the root of the problem is the missing microsoft.vc80.crt file... I can't seem to find it on my computer. Running a file search only found security logs and manifests for the file, but not the file itself... What folder would it be in if I had it?

Not sure really.. but my reliance on google pointed to this for Vista 32 bit users and this issue.

*EDIT

seems you need to make  sure you have the following on vista 32

Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x86)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package ATL Security Update

Exact same error with vista 32 bit on Itunes.

Edit #2.. similar issue was resolved by kyro via this method on a diff thread so Me thinks i'm on the right track.

Riley_Kadin, I know you're trying the .net 4.0 fix right now, but just in case, try this.

And while I'm not familiar with the exact programming language and techniques utilized by Stardock, the Elemental team may want to check out this if this particular error is recurring with other users. The code should be checking for the installed assembly and acting accordingly, so that it doesn't just kill itself when it can't find a particular version. (It may be doing that, again I'm not privy to Stardock's behind the scenes coding).

 Ah, here's the thing about those suggestions; I'm running 64-bit Vista on an x64 processor, so most x86 versions won't work.

Same deal just get the X64 versions instead.

service pack for it

security update for it

(installed in that order) Actually I think the service pack included the original files so you can prob skip the first one.

I imagine you already have atleast the first one installed..(think i saw you mention it in a previous post) but idk if you installed the updates for them which could be the issue.

you will prob have to uninstall and reinstall elemental to get it working after fully updating C++ redist package.

btw service packs for redistribs.. wtf was microsoft thinking?

*edit removed original redist link.. it may be using the older version thats causing the issue lol.

The link I put up is for the X64 version of the ATL Security Update. So you should be good for that, and if you still have problems we'll see what we can dig up.

 Ugh, I seem to be getting another error when trying to install the C++ 2005 redistributable:

"Error 1935.An error occurred during the installation of assembly 'Microsoft.VC80.CRT,type="win32",version="8.0.50727.4053",publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b",processorArchitecture="amd64". Please refer to Help and Support for more information.

 That can't be good.

 EDIT: more specifically, the ATL update. The SP1 installs fine as far as I can tell...

ack.. seems like you have bigger issues in your PC.. you have a system restore point to before you started installing all the C++ redistribs the first time? (prior to posting) i would suggest rolling back.. installing the SP1 redist and the sec update.. then installing elemental.

Edit*

the error you popped up points to a corrupt VC80

and the only suggestion i could find from microsoft is to rollback and reinstall the SP1 redist.

this is a horrible mess to deal with.. PC's can be a pain in the arse sometimes lol

 Ugh. Ok, here goes, reinstalling elemental again...

I'm finding lots of ways to fix the issue in the code, but not on the user end. Someone suggested a different version than what Fistalis and I suggested just now - Here (Direct download)

Problem is that I'm also seeing people that have those errors due to the installation becoming corrupt, (This is on Windows 7 machines however) which forces a restore point or full system wipe. But there has to be a way to do this on a user end without wiping, so hopefully that other version helps. 

Here's something I found from someone getting this error with another install:

Browse to the location c:\windows\winsxs folder and rename the folder winsxs to winsxs.old

Then try to reinstall. Make a restore point prior to this though, just in case there's an issue with the renaming.

edit bolded for clarity. This actually sounds like the easiest solution to fix the corrupt VC80.

It being corrupt was probably the root cause but I was working under the assumption it wasn't there

That being said i'm certain that resolving that will fix your issue.

Good point Fistalis. I wasn't specific, but with all the links in this help thread I should have been. <3

 Well, Elemental is currently reinstalling... it has to re-download, though, so it's gonna take a while. In the meantime, I'll try to get those other fixes going.

 UGH. Windows is currently locking me out of being able to rename the winsxs folder. It's even locking me out of setting the permissions on the folder. So, I'm going to have to figure out a way to outwit Windows and reconfigure the permissions...

Try running command prompt as administrator and rename it that way. I know Administrative permission in Vista is a pain to work around.

 Heh, you know that's right. I ended up cheating my way past the up-tight Windows security; I just created a new folder named winsxs.old and am currently moving the contents of the winsxs folder into it.

EDIT: crud, there are some that won't move. Ok, trying something else then... Argh, it's denying me access trying to rename it via command prompt as an administrator.

 OK here's the plan... After Elemental is done downloading and installing, I'm gonna restart my computer and use Hiren's Boot Disc to gain access to a command prompt before Windows starts. That way, I should be able to rename the winsxs folder without any interference from that overly-controlling monster they call "Windows Security."

Awesome. So long as you made that restore point. - I don't know if it'll have adverse effects if you have to restart windows with that folder renamed vs. just doing it within windows without having to restart. Let me know. I just clocked in at work so I'll be on and off for another eight hours.

 Well, it's gonna take a while for Elemental to finish downloading, so there'll probably not be any news for a bit. One of the results from Google said to restart the comp after renaming the folder, so I assume that's not a problem...