"The Procedure Entry Point ??_U@YAPAXI@Z Could Not Be Located in Msvcrt.dll" Error Message When You Start Windows (318730)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q318730

SYMPTOMS

When you start your Windows NT 4.0-based computer, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
rpcss.exe

The procedure entry point ??_U@YAPAXI@Z could not be located in msvcrt.dll
-or-

When you try to start a program, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
Application.exe - Entry Point not Found

The procedure entry point ??_U@YAPAXI@Z could not be located in the Dynamic Link Library MSVCRT.DLL

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if you install a third-party program that replaces some of the Windows NT 4.0 dynamic-link library (DLL) files with those of a different version.

This behavior occurs when mismatched DLL files try to reference a function in Msvcrt.dll.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, replace the following DLL files with new copies from a Windows NT 4.0 computer that is updated to the same service pack level and that is running the same version of Microsoft Internet Explorer as the Windows NT installation on which you experience this issue:

Msvcrt.dll
Msvcirt.dll
Msvcrt20.dll
Msvcrt40.dll

To do this, perform a parallel windows installation:
  1. If you do not have access to another computer that runs Windows NT 4.0, install a new copy of Windows NT 4.0 to a different folder on your computer.For additional information about how to do this, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    259003 How and Why to Perform a Parallel Installation of Windows NT 4.0

    244378 System Cleanup After a Parallel Installation of Windows NT 4.0

  2. Log on to the new Windows installation, and then install the same service pack as that of the installation with which you experience this problem. To obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0, browse to the following Microsoft Web site:

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e396d059-e402-46ef-b095-a74399e25737&DisplayLang=en

  3. Install the same version of Internet Explorer as that of the Windows installation with which you experience this problem. To obtain the latest version of Internet Explorer, browse to the following Microsoft Web site:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie

    NOTE: If you cannot update the new Windows installation with the same version of Internet Explorer as that of the original Windows installation, install the latest version of Internet Explorer. Then, after you replace the DLL files in step 4, update the original Windows installation to the latest version of Internet Explorer.
  4. Start Windows Explorer, and then copy the following files from the %SYSTEM_ROOT%\System32 folder on the new Windows installation to the %SYSTEM_ROOT%\System32 folder of the Windows installation with which you experience this issue:

    Msvcrt.dll
    Msvcirt.dll
    Msvcrt20.dll
    Msvcrt40.dll

  5. Restart the computer, and then log on to the original Windows installation.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/13/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB318730
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