What does Windows error code 14081 (ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING) mean?

 
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ERROR_SXS_INVALID_ASSEMBLY_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME ERROR_SXS_CORRUPT_ACTIVATION_STACK

ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING

ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING — A Side-by-Side assembly referenced by the application was not found.

Windows resolved a dependency from the application or policy manifest but could not find a matching assembly. The missing item may be a shared Windows component, a Visual C++ runtime, or a private assembly supplied with the application.

The useful data is the exact assembly identity in the trace, including architecture and version. A generic DLL download rarely fixes an identity mismatch.

What to check

  • Capture sxstrace while reproducing the failure and locate the missing assembly identity.
  • Install or repair the product prerequisite that provides that exact assembly for the required architecture.
  • If a Windows assembly is missing, repair the component store instead of manually copying WinSxS files.
sxstrace trace -logfile:sxstrace.etl
sxstrace parse -logfile:sxstrace.etl -outfile:sxstrace.txt

Microsoft: sxstrace

Microsoft: Application manifests

Microsoft: Repair a Windows image

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