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0x8007000BSystemMedium

Error 0x8007000B — Bad Format (ERROR_BAD_FORMAT) | Windows System Error Fix

Windows 11Windows 10Windows 8.1

What Does 0x8007000B Mean?

An attempt was made to load a program with an incorrect format.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1Trying to run a 64-bit program on 32-bit Windows
  2. 2Executable file is corrupted or incomplete
  3. 3File has .exe extension but is not actually an executable
  4. 4Downloaded file was truncated during transfer

Symptoms

  • ⚠Error when launching an application: 'bad format'
  • ⚠Downloaded program refuses to run
  • ⚠Installation file appears broken
  • ⚠Windows cannot identify the file as a valid program

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Re-download the file from the official source
  2. 2Verify the file matches your system architecture (32-bit vs 64-bit)
  3. 3Check the file size matches what is expected from the download page
  4. 4Scan the file with antivirus before running

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Use 'dumpbin /headers filename.exe' to verify the PE header and architecture
  2. 2Check the file hash against the publisher's provided checksum

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if a program is 32-bit or 64-bit?
Right-click the .exe file > Properties > Details tab and look for the platform. Alternatively, try to run it — 32-bit programs work on 64-bit Windows, but 64-bit programs cannot run on 32-bit Windows.

Related Error Codes

0x800700C1Bad EXE Format (ERROR_BAD_EXE_FORMAT)0x80070570File Corrupt (ERROR_FILE_CORRUPT)

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.