This is another case of Windows being particularly obscure. You see (and I'll say this several times), appcompat.txt is not the problem.
I can hear a crowd of people saying "Yes it is! It's right there in this error message!". That's what I mean by Windows being obscure. Read the error message carefully and you'll see what I mean. Appcompat.txt is not the problem, it's not the error, and it's not the cause of the error ... it's information about the error.
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Appcompat.txt is simply a reporting file used when uploading error reports to Microsoft. You've seen the message asking you if you would like to "report this error to Microsoft"? Appcompat.txt is a file that is uploaded if you say yes.
Appcompat.txt is not the problem. It contains information about the problem. Open it up in notepad, and you'll see what I mean. When you get an error message that references appcompat.txt, it'll usually give you the full path to the file. So click on Start, Run and enter:
notepad C:\DOCUME~1\username\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER7b4e.dir00\appcompat.txt
Where "C:\DOCUME~1\username\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER7b4e.dir00\appcompat.txt" is replaced with the actual information that was presented in the error message. You'll see a lot of technical information that begins with this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?> <DATABASE>
Followed by information about the program that was running at the time an error occurred. Note: it's not meant that you understand this. It's meant for the engineers back at Microsoft to use to analyze failures and hopefully provide fixes over time. I point it out here, simply to drive home the point:
Appcompat.txt is not the problem. It contains information about the problem.
So what do you do when you get an error message that references appcompat.txt? In my opinion, a) allow windows to report the error to Microsoft, if it asks you to, and b) forget about appcompat.txt. Unless you're technical enough to understand what's inside of it, it will not help you. Focus instead on what you were doing when the problem happened. We all know that programs can crash for many, many different reasons. The problem could be due to a bug in an application, a problem with your machine, a bug in Windows, a security issue, or any number of other things. Just saying "it's appcompat.txt" tells you exactly nothing about the problem.
The steps to take then will depend on what you were doing and what applications were involved. A fix could be as simple as a configuration change, a virus scan a system file check, or as complex as a complete rebuild and reinstall of Windows. But without more information, there's simply no way to know.
As a final note I want to be clear that appcompat.txt and appcompat.exe are two completely different things. Appcompat.exe is discussed in this other article: Appcompat.exe - What is Appcompat.exe?.
Related:
Ask Leo! - Appcompat.exe - What is Appcompat.exe?
Ask Leo! - What is the System File Checker, and how do I run it?
Article C2367 - June 12, 2005
to leo;
Posted by: Cabir SEZER at November 29, 2008 2:51 AMok understand that appcompat.txt not problem it's just informatıon message for windows.but i have a problem also other person.when i am starting itunes(version 8.0.2)for my iphone,i see on my screen error message. the windows message "itunes cant operated ".now i cant use itunes.i removed the program from my computer then again installed this program but it gave same error message.now i can't use my iphone on my computer for music and picture transfer.but i use to do beforehand now i can't.how can i fix this problem??
hey leo...
Posted by: rohit kaushik at November 29, 2008 1:12 PMmy system has got a problem... whenever i open the D drive i get an error message like this
Application name:explorer.exe AppVer:6.0.2900.2180
ModName:xvid.ax ModVer:0.0.0.0 offset:0003d928
it also says that the following file is also included:
C:DOCUME~1\Rohit\LOCALS~1\Temp\2147_appcompat.txt
in this the number 2147 keeps changing everytime i open the drive...
please help me....
hi again;
Posted by: Cabir SEZER at November 30, 2008 4:45 AMi just want to say this i fixed itunes(connection) my computer between problem.i am so glad.i fixed my myself. i used to assembling codec(ace mega codec) (windowsmedia player,winamp,quick time and other media players)but now i won't use anymore..my problem's source is this codec.this codec was hindering data way my computer with itunes.anyway i fixed..you couldn't help me but i resolved...Despite everything thank you...
dear user..
if you happen same problem like me.first you must look 2 coincidence programs then you should remove this programs..second you must look a codec in your computer..you will see it works...take care
Does the format
resolve the problem with appcombat??
Posted by: george at December 23, 2008 12:05 AMA replaced Adobe photoshop 4 with photoshop 7 because when I open the organizer in 4 it said there is an error in the organizer and needs to shut down- it does the same with Photoshop 7. It says the problem is C:\docume w tmlp and apprcompat .txt
Posted by: charles willey at January 14, 2009 10:10 PMI have spent a day or two fixing a computer that was infeted with the "Brontok" virus.
The PC is now free of the virus, but it stillgives a thousand and one errors, always saying appcompat.txt or with a variation with numbered files. These files do not exist. I was getting Dr. Watson errors - eventually I put a weight on the enter key, to hold it down for about half an hour so it could clear all the "appcompat" errors so windows could come up.
The problem is that the brontok virus makes changes to your registry so it can hook into anything you run at all. This is so it can see if you are running an antivirus program or starting a command window - if you try to do any of these then it will reboot your PC. After the virus is removed, some of these hooks into the system remai.
I have removed manually all the Run keys under registry keys software/microsoft/windows/current version/run and also some from the explorer key in the same place, which were hooks preventing explorer from running. Then I reinstalled windows (a repair install so I don't lose all the printer settings, isp settings and so on) and now it is up and running.
But I am going to run a bunch of antivirus programs against it first, before I give it back to the owners.
Posted by: appcompat error person at March 18, 2009 4:20 AMdis problem arise, when i trying to send any email to anyone,internet exp shows that-"Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."
dis was basically arised when i attaching any docoments, how could i resolve dis prob???
30-Mar-2009
Hello I have problem with one game (fallout3).Its new tipe of extracting files and all programs when I extract on that way i get "D:\DOCUME~1\FILIPP~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\eb6b_appcompat.txt" ERROR!
Posted by: Philip at April 10, 2009 11:40 AMCan u help me pls how to fix that.I think about reseting windovs System32 but ... it take a time so I won't do anything before i dont know can I do it on some another way ....If u have some informations please SENT Me mail: "email address removed"
I have a problem running games. Every time I try to run a game(that requires 2D/3D video cards) this type of fatal game.exe error occurs:
AppName: game.exe AppVer: 0.0.0.0 ModName: game.exe ModVer: 0.0.0.0 Offset: 00455007
I changed two video cards and the problem is still there. I installed different drivers and formated disc with Windows XP and nothing. Can you please help me, thank you for your time.
Posted by: Jim at April 29, 2009 5:31 AMSimply put, the only real solution to this problem is to dump Windows and buy a Mac. This problem isn`t fixable because Microsoft doesn`t want it to be fixable... It`s the same thing technique they`ve been using for years in order to push products, patches and faulty OS` on the unsuspecting public... "appcompat.txt" is pretty much just a file that tells you what they`ve successfully managed to break on your PC so that they know how well their bugs and viruses affect different applications on different PCs and systems.
Once you Send the "Error report" to them, they use this information to make patches and fixes for whatever product or OS they are currently trying to push so that it works properly enough for a short enough time that people will buy it. Then a few years later, they use this same information to break the new product again so that you`ll have to buy an even newer model. Microsoft could easily roll out a patch or an update of some kind to fix an issue like this. They do it all the time and within days of "worm" and " big virus infections". They just choose not to do so with this because it keeps people right where they want them to be... Trapped and completely reliant on them.
You`ll notice the trend whenever they announce that they will no longer be providing support for a previous product (like Windows XP). A few months later something like this happens or a "virus" breaks out that requires extensive troubleshooting (with little promise of a permanent fix other than "buying the newer / upgraded version"). Of course they don`t want it to look like it`s completely their own OS`s fault so they write code to sabotage other applications on your PC which they roll out on via Internet Explorer and Windows Upgrades or whenever you visit the Microsoft homepage for troubleshooting tips. Take a look back through time and you`ll see that the same thing happens over and over again. If Microsoft DIDN`T want this to happen all the time, then that@s still a good reason for you to consider switching to a Mac because that basically means that they have no control or security over their own products (much less your personal information submitted to them via various means)....
This is all staged so Microsoft can make more money off of you with their defective products. Witch to Mac and your life will be a whole lot easier with less application crashes and more reliable performance. Or... you can keep posting blogs like this 5 years from now when they`ve decided to "discontinue support of Windows Vista".
That`s my conspiracy theory of the day!
Posted by: Wfire3 at June 7, 2009 8:04 AM