What is – EfmSoft

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: {Bad Image} %hs 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. Error status 0x%08lx.

Previous	Next
STATUS_PROCEDURE_NOT_FOUND	STATUS_NO_TOKEN

STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_FORMAT

STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_FORMAT (0xC000007B) error occurs if you are trying to run a 64-bit program on 32-bit Windows or the format of the application file is not correct. The application is not compatible with the architecture of your Windows 11/10 PC or is missing dependencies. Windows can run only applications in The Portable Executable (PE) format.

Portable Executable (PE) format

The Portable Executable (PE) format is a file format for executables, object code, DLLs and others used in 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems. The PE format is a data structure that encapsulates the information necessary for the Windows OS loader to manage the wrapped executable code. This includes dynamic library references for linking, API export and import tables, resource management data and thread-local storage (TLS) data. On NT operating systems, the PE format is used for EXE, DLL, SYS (device driver), MUI and other file types. The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) specification states that PE is the standard executable format in EFI environments.

On Windows NT operating systems, PE currently supports the x86-32, x86-64 (AMD64/Intel 64), IA-64, ARM and ARM64 instruction set architectures (ISAs). Prior to Windows 2000, Windows NT (and thus PE) supported the MIPS, Alpha, and PowerPC ISAs. Because PE is used on Windows CE, it continues to support several variants of the MIPS, ARM (including Thumb), and SuperH ISAs.

Analogous formats to PE are ELF (used in Linux and most other versions of Unix) and Mach-O (used in macOS and iOS).

Portable Executable (PE) file format is a file format for executable / dll files introduced in Windows NT. It’s based on COFF (Common Object File Format) specification.

To remain compatible with previous versions of the MS-DOS and Windows, the PE file format retains the old MZ header from MS-DOS.

Much of the definition of individual file components comes from WINNT.H file included in the Windows SDK. In it you will find structure type definitions for each of the file headers and data directories used to represent various components in the file. In other places in the file, WINNT.H lacks sufficient definition of the file structure.

The format consists of an MS-DOS MZ header, followed by a real-mode stub program, the PE file signature, the PE file header, the PE optional header, all of the section headers, and finally, all of the section bodies. If PE file header is not located, Windows return STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_FORMAT (0xC000007B).

The optional header ends with an array of data directory entries that are relative virtual addresses to data directories contained within section bodies. Each data directory indicates how a specific section body’s data is structured.

The PE file format has eleven predefined sections, as is common to applications for Windows NT, but each application can define its own unique sections for code and data.

The .debug predefined section also has the capability of being stripped from the file into a separate debug file. If so, a special debug header is used to parse the debug file, and a flag is specified in the PE file header to indicate that the debug data has been stripped.

How to fix STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_FORMAT (0xC000007B)

Install qualified drivers

Some high-end applications and games need to have correct and valid drivers to work. They will not work with generic drivers. Microsoft has this Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing or WHQL Testing. This makes sure that drivers meet the correct experience, and pass through proper testing before certification. So when you are installing drivers, make sure they are qualified drivers for that Windows.

Update or Download and install DirectX

Microsoft DirectX is a suite of technologies developed by Microsoft to provide hardware acceleration for heavy multimedia applications such as 3D games and HD videos. While Windows 10 has Directx 12, the earlier version used DirectX 11. Make sure to follow the instructions to update or install DirectX on your Windows 10 PC.icrosoft DirectX is a suite of technologies developed by Microsoft to provide hardware acceleration for heavy multimedia applications such as 3D games and HD videos. While Windows 10 has Directx 12, the earlier version used DirectX 11. Make sure to follow the instructions to update or install DirectX on your Windows 10 PC.

Install the Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtime

The Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtime provides updates to version 9.0c and previous versions of DirectX.

Install or update the .NET framework

This framework is used by applications, and games during development. This means without the runtime files installed on your Windows 10 PC, it will not work. Installing or Update .NET Framework is easy. You can also verify it using the .NET setup verification tool.This framework is used by applications, and games during development. This means without the runtime files installed on your Windows 10 PC, it will not work and genearate errors. Installing or Update .NET Framework is easy. You can also verify it using the .NET setup verification tool.