Word and Click-to-Run both fail with Bad Image error 0xc000012f

Thompson, Ross 25 Reputation points
2026-09-08T02:34:37.81+00:00

Opening Word gives a Bad Image error naming c2r64.dll in Office16, error status 0xc000012f. Online Repair through Settings > Apps triggers the same error. Uninstalling from Installed apps also fails, OfficeClickToRun.exe throws the same Bad Image error, this time naming C2RUI.dll in ClickToRun, same status code. I've tried the Support and Recovery Assistant tool (GetHelpCmd.exe), it opens briefly then closes on its own without completing anything. Since both the app and the uninstaller are hitting Bad Image errors on different DLLs, I can't repair or remove Office through any normal method. Looking for help identifying what's blocking these DLLs from loading, or a way to force a clean reinstall.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows
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Answer accepted by question author
TaoLi 110.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-09-08T03:45:48.3933333+00:00

Hi,

Since both Word and OfficeClickToRun.exe fail with error 0xc000012f and point to different Click-to-Run DLL files, this looks more like a corrupted Office Click-to-Run installation rather than a Word-specific issue.

First, open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

sfc /scannow

Restart Windows afterward.

If the error remains and normal Repair/Uninstall still cannot run, I recommend completely removing the damaged Office installation and then reinstalling Office.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/uninstall-office-from-a-pc-9dd49b83-264a-477a-8fcc-2fdf5dbf61d8

Please let me know whether DISM or SFC reports that corrupted files were found and repaired.

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