Background & Error Message
After installing NBA 2K9 PC through Steam on my new PC, I encountered the following error: "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail."
This error indicates a missing C++ redistributable, namely vcredrist_x86.exe. At some point it had been installed on my previous PC, possibly because I originally installed NBA 2K9 from my disc copy and activated it through Steam, or perhaps it installed with another game that likewise required it. In any event, if you reinstall NBA 2K9 via Steam nowadays, this required C++ redistributable seemingly won't be installed accordingly. Instead, it must be installed manually.
Solution
- Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downloa ... x?id=26347
- Select your language and click the Download button.
- On the "Choose the download you want" pop-up, tick the box next to vcredist_x86.exe and click Download.
- Run vcredist_x86.exe to install the missing C++ redistributable
You should now be able to run NBA 2K9 as normal!
Alternatively...
If you still have an NBA 2K9 disc, you could try reinstalling the game from it instead. If you've already reinstalled NBA 2K9 via Steam however, the above solution is obviously much quicker!
