If you're certain no mods are involved, the issue is likely a corrupted game install, an overactive antivirus, or a corrupt system file. Run the "Verify integrity of game files" in Steam, add the game to your antivirus exclusions, or run the SFC and DISM commands to rule out the most common causes.
This comprehensive troubleshooting guide breaks down why this error occurs and provides definitive, step-by-step solutions to fix it. Understanding the Root Causes
Locate existing instances of Visual C++ Redistributables (specifically 2015–2022 versions). Right-click them, select , and then click Repair .
: Discrepancies between Steam and other third-party launchers (like EA/Origin) can prevent the file from being read correctly. How to Fix the Error 1. Repair Visual C++ Redistributables failed to open dlllist.txt for reading error code 2
If the above steps fail, you may need to manually create a missing cache key in the Windows Registry: Microsoft Learn , and hit Enter. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MUI Right-click , and name it StringCacheSettings Inside this new key, create a DWORD (32-bit) Value StringCacheGeneration Value data (Hexadecimal) and restart your computer. Microsoft Learn where this error is appearing?
Scroll down to and select Add or remove exclusions .
1. Repair or Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables If you're certain no mods are involved, the
Open the installation directory of the application showing the error.
recommend running system file checks to ensure core Windows components are intact: SFC /scannow DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth Clean Registry & AppData (For Installer Errors):
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile] @="Application" "EditFlags"=hex:38,07,00,00 "FriendlyTypeName"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52, 00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00, 32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c, 00,2c,00,2d,00,31,00,30,00,31,00,35,00,36,00,00,00 Understanding the Root Causes Locate existing instances of
If the sfc /scannow command fails to fix the issue, the corruption might be deeper. DISM (Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management) can repair the underlying system image that the SFC tool uses. In the admin Command Prompt, run these commands one after another:
configuration files, mistakenly identifying them as threats. Insufficient Permissions: Running an installer without full Administrator privileges can block access to the directories where dlllist.txt is stored. Registry Corruption:
Go to and click Verify integrity of game files .