How to Fix Error 0x80040702

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Error 0x80040702 is a relatively common issue that occurs on virtually every version of Windows. Fortunately, it is possible for you to resolve, providing you understand exactly what it is, and the various steps others have taken to remedy it.

Cause of Error 0x80040702

Error 0x80040702 can occur in many different instances, but the most common is when an end user attempts to install a new application. The more resource-hungry the application, the more likely it is to generate this error during installation. For the end user, you need to know what causes it, and the version of the error you’re actually experience.

The most common causes of this error are the following:

  • The InstallShield is unable to find one or more files that are required during the installation process.
  • The InstallShield is unable to overwrite out-dated or left over files of a previous version of the application you are installing (or upgrading).
  • Vital installation files have been corrupted by viruses on your system.
  • The Windows registry has been corrupted.
  • The system experienced a power failure during the installation.
  • The DLL file in the error message has not been registered within Windows.
  • The installation process has been halted by the operating system.

More error causes, usually translates into more possible solutions.

How to Fix It

When it comes to fixing Error 0x80040702 there are several things that can be done, some more complicated than others. I have thus arranged the possible solutions in order of effectiveness and ease of implementation.

Continue reading for those solutions:

Run a Registry Scan

The Windows registry is the central database system used for storing important hardware and software settings data. Not only does it hold important information about your mailing client, for example, or even your desktop wallpaper choice, it also holds information integral to the smooth running of all your applications. When these registry entries are damaged or corrupted, the operating system is no longer able to read these entries, thus resulting in errors.

The failure of certain vital Windows components, such as the InstallShield, in this case, can be caused by a defective registry. As a solution, you should run a registry scan of your system, using a professional registry cleaner tool like Advanced System Repair Pro. Such a tool will scan, detect and repair corrupted entries within the registry. It will also remove redundant entries, effectively improving the overall performance of your system.

For more information on this powerful tool, I suggest you visit the following link:

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Run a Virus Scan

Virus infections are very common nowadays, but are not in any way less significant than they were in the past. One of the primary causes of error 0x80040702 is viruses. These malicious files latch onto your computer and infect important files, such as your InstallShield files, which are required by the operating system to run and install new applications to your system.

Fortunately, fixing this problem is relatively simple, as the end user need only run a powerful yet reliable antivirus tool such as SpyHunter. If you download and install this tool, it will clean your system of any and all malicious files, repairing any previously damaged components, such as the InstallShield in this case.

SpyHunter is also adept at removing spyware, worms, Trojan horses and a host of other malicious file types, making it very powerful and highly recommended internet security tool.

Anyway, you can learn more about SpyHunter from the link below:

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT SPYHUNTER

The solution(s) below are for ADVANCED level computer users. If you are a beginner to intermediate computer user, I highly recommend you use the automated tool(s) above!

Replace Missing DLL File(s)

There are those instances when the operating system is unable to read a particular file required during the installation phase of an application. When this occurs, the computer may throw up the 0x80040702 error message, while indicating which DLL file it was unable to find or read. Fortunately, it is possible for you to fix this problem, by doing the following:

If you’ve ever encountered this error while using CorelDRAW for example, the error message is known to show up as the following:

Error 0x80040702: can’t locate dll: swcusten (CorelDraw 11-File Not Found)

This particular error message simply indicates that the operating system was unable to read one or more files during the installation process. The DLL file it was unable to locate in this case was SWcustEN.dll, thus resulting in the error.

So how to do you fix, well the most effective solution is to do the following:

1. First, boot into your computer with fill administrative rights.

2. Then click on Start -> Search [Windows Vista/7: Type SWcustEN.dll (into the Search programs and files box) to run a search for the file on your system].

click on start -> search

3. When the Search Results box appears, click on all files and folders.

select all files and folders from the options

4. Then type SWcustEN.dll into the All or part of the file name box and click on Search.

search -> SWcustEN.dll

Note: If it finds the file, then you’ll want to Copy and Paste it to the System32 folder.

5. You can open the System32 folder by pressing windows key + R, and typing %windir%system32 into the Run Command box and clicking on OK.

paste file in system32 folder

Note: If the error message indicates more than one file, then you will need to repeat this process for the other files.

6. Once you have finished doing that, you can then retry the installation.

Note: If the computer is unable to find the DLL file on your computer, then you will need to acquire the file from someplace else. There are many DLL directory websites out there. I personally wouldn’t recommend any, but I do recommend you research thoroughly, before you attempt to copy anything to your computer from these sites.

As an alternative to the DLL directory sites, you could try System File Checker, though this program is designed solely to restore previously damaged and/or deleted Windows files, so there’s a strong chance that it will not work.

Remove Leftover Entries

When attempting to reinstall an application you may encounter the fatal error 0x80040702.

This situation occurs when fragments of an application (in the form of files) have been left behind by a previous installation.

This issue is fairly simply to remedy, simply do the following:

1. First, boot into your computer with full administrative rights.

2. Then press windows key + R, type C:Program Files and click on OK.

run -> C:Program Files

3. Once the Program Files folder appears locate the previously uninstalled application folder and Delete it.

program folder -> delete

Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to perform a registry scan, which will remove all associate references within the Windows registry. To carry out this task you can use Advanced System Repair Pro, which I have already recommended.

Note: It’s not uncommon for the Add or Remove Programs utility to not remove every file and every registry reference of an application, during an uninstallation. This is why uninstallation tools were developed, like Express Uninstaller.

These programs are designed to not only remove a program using the built in uninstaller, but also to carry out its own manual removal process, which entails scanning your hard drive for remaining files and removing them, and also scanning your registry, essentially eliminating any issues that may later transpire due to the accumulation of redundant files on your system.

4. Anyway, once you have removed all files and registry references, you can now try reinstalling the application that was previously giving you problems.

Upgrading Software

End users may also encounter error 0x80040702 while attempting to update an application.

For example, you may experience the error below when you attempt to install a later version of the Palm Treo 650 application:

Error Number: 0x80040702
Description: Failed to load dll: HSAPI

In order to resolve this problem, much like the previous issue, you will need to remove all instances of the application from your computer. However, in this particular situation, it’s assumed the application is currently installed on your system. Thus, I’d recommend you used Express Uninstaller to remove the program, as it will carry out all the additional steps (mentioned above) automatically.

You can download this powerful tool from the link below:

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT EXPRESS UNINSTALLER

Once you’ve removed the program from your system, you can then try installing the latest version of the application again.

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