Constant Windows updates have led to the fact that a number of programs do not run on modern versions of operating systems. Not all developers keep their games and applications up to date, which can lead to errors when trying to launch them. Most of these errors can be resolved by installing compatibility, but not all. If you receive a message when you start the application that the parallel configuration is incorrect, there are a number of ways to fix this, which will be discussed below.
Parallel configuration is wrong: what does it mean
When the error “Parallel configuration is incorrect” occurs, the Windows operating system independently prompts the user what needs to be done to diagnose it. The error message box indicates that more information about its causes can be found in the application event log. If the program does not have it, you can use the sxstrace.exe command, which allows you to determine which of the modules in use has an incorrect parallel configuration.
To diagnose the cause of the error using sxstrace.exe, you need to do the following:
- Run command prompt as administrator;
- Run the following command: sxstrace trace /logfile:sxstrace.etl
- Next, run an application that reports that the parallel configuration is incorrect. When an error message appears, click "OK" and return to the command line;
- Execute on command line: sxstrace parse /logfile:sxstrace.etl /outfile:sxstrace.txt
Please note: If necessary, you can vary the path to the etl log and the final name of the txt file.
After completing the steps described above, it remains to open the created txt file using notepad or another text editor and examine the results.
Parallel Configuration Wrong: How to Fix
It is not at all necessary to perform the diagnostics described above, but often it allows you to understand the cause of the error in question. To fix the problem and the message "Parallel configuration is incorrect" no longer appears when starting the program, most often it is enough to resolve the conflict between Windows and the Visual C ++ package or make some changes to the registry. Let's look at both options below.
Parallel configuration is wrong due to Visual C++
When installing games and applications along with them on a computer, most often, a package of additional software is installed. This package may contain libraries Visual C++ 2008, Visual C++ 2010, and so on. If they conflict with Windows, the message "Parallel configuration is incorrect" will appear. In such a situation, you can fix the error as follows:
After that, the error "Parallel configuration is incorrect" should no longer bother.
Please note: If, after following the instructions described above, the program that caused the error to start refuses to open, try reinstalling it.
Parallel configuration is incorrect due to a registry error
Another reason for the “Parallel Configuration Incorrect” error to appear is registry glitches. If the system default versions of the libraries differ from the last installed versions, then the failure in question may occur.
To fix the problem, run Registry Editor. To do this, press on the Windows keyboard + R and write the command in the "Run" window regedit. The registry editor will open, in which you need to follow the path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -SOFTWARE -Microsoft -Windows -CurrentVersion -SideBySide -Winners - x86_policy.9.0.microsoft.vc90.crt_(various letters and numbers) - 9.0
In this section, you will see the Default value and two options. Please note that the name of the parameter corresponds to the default value. If they don't match, change the Default value to be identical to the parameter name.
Today we will understand what parallel configuration is and what to do if the application failed to start because its parallel configuration is incorrect. How to fix this problem?
How applications are arranged
Parallel configuration allows you to specify in a special application manifest all versions of the libraries used to run it. It is recorded when the software is created. Accordingly, when you try to run the application, the system reads this manifest and looks for the necessary resources. Their absence causes the application to fail to start. And the reason is the wrong parallel configuration. If the situation is not corrected, then it will not be possible to launch the application (and often this is your favorite game).
The very notion of side-by-side configuration was introduced by Microsoft, whose .NET Framework software development platform is ubiquitous. The conflict begins because of the many releases of the Microsoft Visual C ++ Redistributable software product. This is a programming system in which a huge number of programs are created. Its installation often occurs when installing software. You can see for yourself which versions you have. To do this, go to the overview of programs:
Parallel configuration is wrong - how to fix it?
Various methods are known to fix the incorrect parallel configuration when the application starts. But first, you must understand: Windows is not at all to blame here, and even after reinstalling it, you will not be able to run the old game. Therefore, you can rollback to a restore point that was created BEFORE the conflict occurred. Other actions on the OS to fix the problem and launch the application will not help.
The very first thing to do is to reinstall the application that failed to start. For example, Yandex browser does not start - the parallel configuration is incorrect. Download the new installer from the developer's website and run it. You may now be able to launch the application.
When reinstalling the software causing the error fails (for example, there is no installer) or nothing has changed after reinstallation, proceed with the steps to fix the bug.
We offer you three options that, as practice has shown, help to fix the "incorrect parallel application configuration" error:
- Reinstalling Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.
- Analysis of errors in system manifests.
- Registry cleaning.
Reinstalling MSVC packages
This is the most acceptable way to correct an incorrect parallel configuration. Most users note that after these steps, they were able to start the software. First of all, write down which versions you have so you don't forget to download the right one. For 64-bit PCs, x86 and x64 are required, while for 32-bit PCs, only x86. You need exactly the indicators x## and the year.
Uninstalling is simple: in the Programs and Features window, right-click on the application line and select "Uninstall". Or click the button at the top of the toolbar. 
Restart your PC. It's not worth running anything - most of your programs will no longer work, because nothing has been fixed yet.
Next, you should sequentially download and install the remote versions. You can find them on the official Microsoft website:
Choose "Download" or "Download". The installer file will appear in the browser's downloads panel (at the bottom). Click on it and follow the instructions. 
After all installations, start the OS again by restarting the computer. If the application still fails to start, reinstall it again. You may have managed to fix the incorrect parallel configuration.
Attention! The list contains all addresses for updating packages of different versions. Choose only what you need!
You also need to reinstall the .NET Framework package itself to correct the incorrect side-by-side configuration. Download addresses:
Manifest parsing
If you carefully read the error message about the incorrect parallel configuration, you will see a suggestion to use the sxstrace.exe program to fix it. This is a system application that allows you to save all application launch data to a separate file. To use it, do the following:
Fix with Registry Editor
Sometimes the cause of an incorrect side-by-side configuration is a failure in registry entries. In order for us to be able to fix this problem, let's start the registry - RMB on the main menu button, "Run", enter regedit. 
Create a copy of the registry. To do this, run the command in the menu "File" - "Export" and specify where you save. If you spoil something, you can then use the "Import" operation. Also create a restore point.
In the registry editor, consistently go through the path underlined in the screenshot below. To be able to correct the error, be very careful. 
In the folder that opens, find the entries:
x86_policy.8.0.microsoft.vc80.crt_....
And
x86_policy.9.0.microsoft.vc80.crt_ .... 
Go to folder 8.0 and look on the right side. 
The default is the version of the last parameter. If it's not, change it. Click RMB on the first line. 
And enter the desired value. 
Do the same in folder 9.0. Close the editor and reboot. Try running the program. Most likely, you managed to fix the parallel configuration.
Once again, we want to remind you that it is better not to open the registry without special need and you should not change anything in it yourself. In any case, save a copy of it, create a recovery disk or flash drive and a restore point in advance. And then experiment.
We hope that the information will help you solve the problem of incorrect parallel configuration.
On the Windows 7 operating system, you may encounter the error "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect", which translates as "The application could not start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect." The same problem was recently discovered on a PC running Windows 10. What is the reason for this error and how to fix it?
Fixing the problem through the command line in Windows 10
The full text of the error looks like this: “The application could not be started because its parallel configuration is incorrect. See the application event log for more information, or use the sxstrace.exe command-line tool for more information."
To fix this problem using the command line, you should follow these steps:
- Press "Win + R" and enter "cmd".
- The console will open. We enter "Sxstrace".
- Next, enter "sxstrace trace /logfile:sxstrace.etl". The path to the log may be different. We look at the error.
- Then re-enter "sxstrace parse /logfile:sxstrace.etl /outfile:sxstrace.txt".
- The sxstrace.txt file will open.
Notepad will open information that indicates what kind of error occurred, which version of the Visual C ++ libraries is needed.
We look at the data and download new software.
Fixing the error by reinstalling Visual C++
In most cases, the cause of this error is the incorrect operation of the installed software or a conflict between different versions of Visual C ++. Therefore, you can solve the problem by reinstalling the Microsoft libraries.
- Click "Start", "Control Panel", select "Programs and Features".
- Select "Turn features on or off" from the menu on the left. We find and remove the conflicting version of the libraries.
Windows is constantly updated, so some programs and games can't keep up with the system. As a result, there are problems with compatibility and application launch. It is usually sufficient to simply enable compatibility with an older version, but some bugs are fixed in other ways. In particular, we are talking about a failure, which is accompanied by a message that the parallel configuration is incorrect.
Finding a reason
When you receive a "Parallel configuration is incorrect" error, Windows prompts you what steps to take to determine the cause of the failure. Typically, the message indicates that information about the causes can be found in the program's event log. If there is no log, use the sxstrace.exe command to determine which module is having configuration problems. 
To diagnose the error using sxstrace.exe, follow these steps:
In principle, you can do without diagnostics, immediately proceeding to correct the error. Diagnostics only allows you to roughly determine which method to use to fix the failure.
Troubleshooting
The most common cause of the message that the configuration is incorrect is a Visual C++ conflict with Windows. To resolve the conflict with Visual C++:
If, after reinstalling the libraries, the program that gave the error stops running, try deleting it and reinstalling it.
Another possible reason is registry errors. To find and fix them, you must first launch the registry editor: press Win + R and execute "regedit". Before making changes to the registry, create a restore point.
Just the other day I had a problem. I think from the title of the article you already understood which one. While installing one favorite toy on my PC, I accidentally rejected the installation of C++ and DirectX. The installation was successful. But when I started the program, I saw a system error message that the application could not be started because its parallel configuration was incorrect, and so on.
In 90% of the cases, this error occurs due to conflicts or missing Visual C++ prerequisites. Most likely the absence. If, when installing a program or a game, you unchecked the installation of additional software, it turns out that all the system libraries and components necessary for correct operation were not installed. This could also happen as in my case, a simple cancellation of the installation of these same components.
It is solved very simply.
Another solution
As I wrote above. The described methods help in 90% of cases, but what about the other 10%? Read below.
Don't forget the end of our error message: "For more information, see the application event log, or use the sxstrace.exe command-line tool for more information." That's why let's run our sxstrace program. You need to run it on the command line running as administrator.
How to start the console follow these steps:
Enter the command sxstrace trace -logfile:sxstrace.etl
Without closing the console, run the program with the error. Then just close the error message.
At the command prompt, type sxstrace parse -logfile:sxstrace.etl -outfile:sxstrace.txt
In open the sxstrace.txt file itself
In this file, you can find out the bit depth and required version of Visual C++ components. Feel free to go to the Internet and download, install, reboot and run our program. In the end, everything should work perfectly!
