Every time I begin a game, the CMD.exe window appears displaying error code 0xc0000142
Every time I begin a game, the CMD.exe window appears displaying error code 0xc0000142
When I open any game using cmd.exe, an application error appears with code 0xc0000142. It repeats every few minutes for about 15 to 20 minutes before stopping. This only occurs when playing games. For example, with League of Legends, two errors show up each time I start a match. This happens consistently across all titles. I’m using Windows Defender without any antivirus software. I’ve tried several fixes: running SFC Scan, DISM Tool, updating Windows, refreshing drivers, adjusting startup settings, changing the system locale, repairing DLLs, reinstalling .NET Framework, and modifying the Visual C++ Redistributable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Review the startup environment to confirm there are no remnants of a rootkit or other malicious components. Notices some attempt to run via command prompt when executing multiple files. You can also add third-party updates (such as .NET and Visual C++) in Windows 11 using PowerShell with the command "winget update --all"
Execute the command in admin mode using the upgrade or update tool --all to refresh most of your applications and ensure you have the latest C++ files.
Certainly! The vestage of a rootkit refers to its current stage or level of activity within a system. It’s typically looking for signs of persistence, such as hidden processes, modified registry entries, altered startup items, or unusual network connections that indicate the malicious code is still embedded and operating.
Event Log Entry
Name: System Source
Application: Application Popup
Date: 21-06-2025 15:55:25
Event ID: 26
Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: User: SYSTEM, Computer: LAPTOP-J1BDI28J
Description: Application popup: cmd.exe - Application Error
Error Code: 0xc0000142
Action: Click OK to close the app
Timestamp: 2025-06-21T10:25:25.0660485Z
Record ID: 732
Channel: System
Computer: LAPTOP-J1BDI28J
Security UserID: S-1-5-18
It seems you experienced a similar problem earlier. The reason was installing an app to remove Microsoft Edge, which triggered a script each time a game ran. To identify your issue, download and install Sysmon from Microsoft. After launching it via an elevated prompt, it will monitor running programs and save logs to the Event Viewer. When you start a game, record the precise time the 5 cmd.exe window appears. Refresh the log, look for "Process create," and note the process name and path where the program is executing. Focus on the recurring one and remove or rename it accordingly. This should resolve the situation.
I also ran the edge removal script. It looks like you kept the same ParentCommandLine, so what changed was the deletion or renaming of something else.