What is SidebySide application?

Microsoft Win32 Side-by-Side service is used to manage the use of various versions of the same component (i.e. DLLs, COMs) installed and running on the same Windows 11/10 computer.

What is a SideBySide error?

SideBySide errors usually occur on your Windows 11/10 PC if the current installed Microsoft Visual C++ version is not backward compatible with the application that crashed. The Event ID 33 or Event ID 59 is typically associated with the error. For detailed diagnosis, use sxstrace.exe. The most likely culprits to this error includes the following:

Missing Visual C++ Redistributable Package.Corrupted operating system-related dependencies.Corrupted .DLL file belonging to a Bing Bar Extension.System File corruption.

SideBySide Error 59 – Activation context generation failed

If you’re faced with this Activation context generation failed issue, you can try our recommended solutions below in no particular order and see if that helps to resolve the SideBySide Error 59 that has occurred on your Windows 11/10 computer. Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved concerning each of the listed solutions.

1] Run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

As the SideBySide Error 59 that occurred on your Windows 11/10 computer is app-related, you can begin troubleshooting by runing the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter and see if that helps. To run Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter on your Windows 11 device, do the following:

Press Windows key + I to open Settings app.Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.Under the Other section, find Windows Store Apps.Click Run button.Follow on-screen instructions and apply any recommended fixes.

To run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter on your Windows 10 PC, do the following:

Press Windows key + I to open Settings app.Go to Update and Security.Click the Troubleshooter tab.Scroll down and click on Windows Store Apps.Click the Run the troubleshooter button.Follow on-screen instructions and apply any recommended fixes.

2] Uninstall Bing Bar (if applicable)

Bing Bar is a toolbar for Windows Internet Explorer that integrates with the Microsoft Bing search engine. You can use Bing Bar to search for videos, news, and maps. As it relates to the error in view, investigations revealed that a Bing Bar extension that tries to call a corrupted .dll file is also a culprit. In this particular scenario, if it applies to you, and you have Bing Bar installed on your computer, to resolve the issue in hand, you need to uninstall the Bing Toolbar from your PC.

3] Run SFC and DISM scan

Corrupted system file that is affecting the normal usage and function of the required Visual C++ dependencies on your Windows 11/10 system can also be a culprit to the issue. In this case, to rule out this possibility, you can run SFC/DISM scan by following the instructions in the guide on how to fix the error message “The system detected an overrun of a stack-based buffer in this application“.

4] Install missing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages

This error is likely to occur due to missing Visual C++ dependency that the application you are trying to launch requires. Or, in some cases, there’s a startup service unable to start due to missing Visual C++ Redistributable Package. In any case, to resolve the issue, you need to install the missing redistributable package(s) and then restart your computer. Keep in mind that different programs will require different redistributable package, so you need to first identify the missing MSVCR runtime libraries. Do the following:

Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.In the Run dialog box, type cmd and then press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER to open Command Prompt in admin/elevated mode.In the command prompt window, type the command below and hit Enter.

Next, after the command executes successfully, open the program that is triggering the error in view.Next, run the command below in the open CMD prompt window:

Once the command executes successfully, open the SxSTrace.txt file with a text editor and review and see which VC++ runtime dependency is missing.Once identified, you can now download and install the Visual C++ Redistributable Package on your system.Restart PC when the package installation completes.

On boot, see if the issue is resolved. Otherwise, try the next solution.

5] Uninstall and reinstall the app

A viable solution to this issue, since the error could be triggered by an application that crashes when you launch it, is to uninstall the app (preferably using third-party software uninstaller), restart system and then download (if the app is essential and you still need it) the latest version of the app (or an alternative) and install on your Windows 11/10 PC.

6] Reset Windows 11/10

At this point if nothing has worked for you in resolving the issue, you can reset Windows 11/10 and choose the option to keep your personal files. Hope this helps! Related post: The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect.