This document provides instructions to resolve an error when starting Microsoft Access where it says the "side-by-side configuration is incorrect". The issue is caused by a conflict with the Visual Studio 2008 C runtime libraries. The resolution involves modifying the registry to set the default version of the C runtime libraries to the highest number installed to override the conflict. It also may require renaming the Access executable file and restarting the installer to resolve file association errors.
Prevent the application has failed to start because its side by-side configuration is incorrect..
1. 21/02/2016 Prevent "The application has failed to start because its sidebyside configuration is incorrect..." error starting Access
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Symptom
When trying to start Microsoft Office Access 2010 you may receive the following error message:
The application has failed to start because the side‐by‐side configuration is incorrect. Please
see the application event log for more details.
When you check the application event log you will see an entry similar to:
Activation context generation failed for "C:Program FilesMicrosoft
OfficeOffice14MSACCESS.EXE.Manifest". Error in manifest or policy file "" on line. A
component version required by the application conflicts with another component version
already active. Conflicting components are:
Component 1:
C:WindowsWinSxSmanifestsx86_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30304.0_
none_d9c474bda3593bfa.manifest.
Component 2:
C:WindowsWinSxSmanifestsx86_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.1_
none_e163563597edeada.manifest.
You may also see the following error message before you get the error message about the side‐
by‐side configuration:
This file association does not have a program associated with if for performing this action.
Create an association in the Set Association control panel.
Prevent "The application has failed to start
because its side‐by‐side configuration is
incorrect..." error starting Access
2. 21/02/2016 Prevent "The application has failed to start because its sidebyside configuration is incorrect..." error starting Access
https://support.microsoft.com/enus/kb/2525435 2/5
Cause
This issue is caused by a conflict with some of the files in the 2008 version of the C run‐time
libraries. These libraries are part of the Visual Studio 2008 release, the version numbers start with
9.0. These libraries may be installed with several different Microsoft and third party products.
Resolution
The steps below resolve the issue by setting the default version of the C run‐time libraries to the
highest version number you have installed on your computer. To set the default version, you will
need to modify the registry.
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry
Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating
system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at
your own risk.
Windows Vista
1. To open the Registry Editor, click the Start button and type “regedit.exe” ﴾without the
quotation marks﴿ and press the ENTER key. If you see the User Account Control dialog box
appear, click Continue.
2. On the left side, expand the tree structure until you find the registry key that starts with
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINECOMPONENTSWinnersx86_policy.9.0.microsoft.vc90.crt_".
3. Expand the key above.
4. Below that key, you should see a 9.0 key. Select the 9.0 registry key.
5. In the right pane, make note of the number you see in the Data column for the row where
the Name is set to ﴾Default﴿, in case you need to revert to this number later.
6. Look through the list of numbers in the Name column and find the highest number.
7. Double‐click the ﴾Default﴿ string value to open the Edit String dialog box.
8. Replace the number in the "Value data" box with the highest number you saw in step #6.
Click OK.
9. On the File menu, click Exit to close the Registry Editor.
3. 21/02/2016 Prevent "The application has failed to start because its sidebyside configuration is incorrect..." error starting Access
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9. On the File menu, click Exit to close the Registry Editor.
10. After completing step #8 the issue may be resolved. If you continue to see the same
problem restart the computer. You may also need to follow the steps below to correct the
file association error message.
After making this change to the registry you may still see file association error message. To
correct that part of the problem, follow the remaining steps:
10. Locate the Access executable file ﴾msaccess.exe﴿. By default, on a 32‐bit version of Windows
this is located in "C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice14 folder. On a 64‐bit version of
Windows this is located in "C:Program Files ﴾x86﴿Microsoft OfficeOffice14 folder.
11. Rename msaccess.exe to msaccess.old.
12. Start the installer to create a version of msaccess.exe. To do this, start Access using the Start
Button, All Programs, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Access 2010.
Other versions of Windows
This problem is typically reported for computers running Vista. If you encounter the error
message within a different Windows environment, you can use the same steps listed in the
Windows Vista section. The only difference is the registry key path listed in step number 2 may be
different. On other versions of Windows, the key path will start with
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSideBySideWinnersx8
6_policy.9.0.microsoft.vc90.crt_".
Microsoft Office Access 2007
If you encounter the error message with Microsoft Office Access 2007, it will related to the 2005
version of the C run‐time libraries. The version numbers of these libraries start with 8.0. You can
still use the steps listed in the Windows Vista section; however, there will be two differences:
In step number 2, the registry path will have x86_policy.8.0.microsoft.vc80.crt instead of
x86_policy.9.0.microsoft.vc90.crt.
In step number 3, you will need to select the 8.0 registry key.
More Information
To view the application event log in Vista, follow the steps below:
1. Click the Start button and then click Control Panel.
2. Click System and Maintenance.
3. Click Administrative Tools.
4. 21/02/2016 Prevent "The application has failed to start because its sidebyside configuration is incorrect..." error starting Access
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3. Click Administrative Tools.
4. Double‐click Event Viewer.
5. In the Console Tree on the left side, expand Windows Logs, and then click Application.
Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support
organization. The information contained herein is provided as‐is in response to emerging issues.
As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and
may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use for other considerations.
Properties
Article ID: 2525435 ‐ Last Review: 09/01/2015 02:28:00 ‐ Revision: 9.0
Applies to
Microsoft Access 2010
Microsoft Office Access 2007
Keywords:
KB2525435
Support
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