| Previous | Next |
| ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_LOGON_INFO | ERROR_BAD_SERVICE_ENTRYPOINT |
ERROR_BAD_DLL_ENTRYPOINT
What ERROR_BAD_DLL_ENTRYPOINT means
The loader or calling component expected a function entry point that is absent, malformed, incompatible, or points to an unusable implementation. The file may be the wrong version even when its name and signature appear valid.
Where it commonly appears
- Application startup and plug-in loading
- Delay-loaded imports
- Mixed-version deployments
- Manual GetProcAddress-based integration
Likely causes
- The deployed DLL lacks the required exported symbol
- Name decoration, calling convention, or architecture differs
- An incompatible DLL earlier in the search path was loaded
- The export table or binary is corrupt
- A forwarded export resolves to a missing dependency
Troubleshooting checklist
- Record the full path of the DLL actually loaded, not only its base name
- Inspect exports with a binary analysis tool and compare the exact expected symbol
- Check process and DLL architecture
- Use loader diagnostics to find search-order substitutions and missing forwarded dependencies
- Compare file version and hash with the intended deployment artifact
Guidance for developers
Bind to documented exports and validate optional entry points before calling them. Avoid relying on ordinal-only imports across versions. Package private dependencies beside the application or use a controlled loader search path.
Guidance for administrators
Repair or reinstall the application as a unit. Copying a DLL from another machine can create a more subtle version mismatch and should not be the first remedy.
Example
A plug-in built against a newer SDK expects InitializeEx, but deployment includes an older DLL exporting only Initialize. The file loads, yet entry-point resolution fails with this code.
Related conditions
ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND means a module could not be found; ERROR_PROC_NOT_FOUND is a closely related missing-export result. This code can also cover invalid entry-point behavior during loader processing.
References
Looking for a different code? Search another status or error code.