What does not a valid win32 application mean? Say, with Chrome setup?

Browsing through my logs I see a ton of searches like this:

chrome setup.exe not valid win32

I’m not sure which part of this site they are hitting. Anyway, this is for you.

In my experience “not a valid win32 application” invariably means a corrupt executable. I’d guess that what has happened here is that your web browser did not download the entire setup file, but stopped half way. Internet Explorer is particularly bad in this respect: it tells you that a download is complete, when you can see that it is not because the download size is not what it should be. It usually happens when the connection is poor, either at your end, or because of a busy server. It beats me why browsers don’t make a basic check on the file size after download.

It can also happen with a CD or DVD install, if the disk is corrupt or the drive is failing; or if your hard drive is failing.

The usual solution is to re-download the file.

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7 comments to What does not a valid win32 application mean? Say, with Chrome setup?

  • Corrupt downloads are one thing that Metalink is used to prevent. It includes file sizes & hashes to verify if a file is complete & identical, along with extra URLs for backup in case one goes down.

  • I downloaded a file I know works with XP as hundreds have used it with no problem but on my machine it gives me the error above.

    I tried my another XP machine and got a simular error.

    I’m not sure what to do to resolve the issue. I’ve redownloaded it several times and with differant browsers and it still gives me the error.

    I have a useless, dead $500 cell phone w/o this program working so I am pretty frustrated at this point.

  • tim

    @Jesse

    It sounds like the problem is with the file, especially if it occurs on other machines.

    Are you able to check the exact file size against the online copy; and also verify that the online copy is OK?

    Tim

  • Chris Robinson

    I also had this (similar) message when trying to download Norton antivirus removal tool which I am trying desperately to get rid of. Any ideas?

  • tim

    @Chris

    Beware – apparently some viruses actually display this message to mislead you into thinking they are not working.

    Otherwise, it’s probably just an incomplete download.

    Tim

  • Bijesh

    i am getting chrome.exe corrupt file message in buttom of pc time to time.i am using google chrome web browser for more than 1 months.can any one suggest me how to get free from this sorts of message
    bijesh
    cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • BOB20

    My firewall was causing incomplete file downloads. Everytime I shutdown the firewall before downloading a file, it works out.

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