Fallout3.exe- Ordinal Not Found The ordinal 43 could not be located in the dynamic link library C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\xlive.dll may be the exact code you get when you try to play Fallout 3 on your computer. 

This is an issue that has been ongoing for many Fallout 3 players over the years. Why does it happen? What can you do to resolve it?

We have the answers! We have a variety of methods that have proven effective for many users. Method one and two seem to work best for users who have come across this problem. 

What Is The Ordinal 43 Error?

Fallout3.exe- Ordinal Not Found The ordinal 43 could not be located in the dynamic link library C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\xlive.dll will pop up while trying to access Fallout 3.

This may suggest that a DLL file is missing or that there is something else going on with your PC that isn’t allowing it to access the game. 

What Causes The Ordinal 43 Error?

At this point in time, there are several causes for the error, especially after you’ve updated Windows 10. The most common cause is that games for Windows Live isn’t installed on your computer. Additionally, there are a few other common reasons for the error such as: 

Missing DLL File-As the error says, the xlive.dll file is missing. If you see this, you should promptly download it from the installation folder within the Fallout 3 file. 

Drivers-If there has been a new driver installed that may be incompatible with the game, then you will need the older drivers installed and the new ones deleted. 

So now that you know what causes the Ordinal 43 error, let’s get into how we can fix it so you can play Fallout 3 again. 

How to Fix The Ordinal 43 Error

Fixing the Ordinal 43 error is quite simple. It may require installation, file deletion, some keyboard typing, etc.

Here are some of the common methods that have worked for other individuals who also received the Fallout3.exe- Ordinal Not Found The ordinal 43 could not be located in the dynamic link library C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\xlive.dll error: 

1. 1. Install Games for Windows Live
2. 2. Download the missing DLL file
3. 3. Install older graphics card drivers
4. 4. Run Fallout 3 in compatibility mode 
5. 5. Run SFC Command
6. 6. Reinstall the game

These are all very quick fixes, most of which require some installations of some kind. If you’re ready, continue to the methods below and work your way down the list if one doesn’t work. 

Method 1: Install Games for Windows Live

This is the most common way to fix the Fallout3.exe- Ordinal Not Found The ordinal 43 could not be located in the dynamic link library C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\xlive.dll error.

Since this is such an old game, most users don’t have this Games for Windows Live on their computer anymore. Generally, the software isn’t supported by the ever-expanding Windows 10 operating system, but in this case, all you need is that missing .dll file. You can download it quickly by following these steps: 

1. 1. Click here to begin the download process for Games for Windows Live. Click on the file at the bottom of your browser once it’s done downloading
2. 2. Once in the Downloads folder, double click on the file that just downloads
3. It will begin downloading the required files, which is around 30mb worth before the actual download begins
4. 3. You don’t have to run the tool, but once the installation is complete, you should now have the xlive.dll file on your computer and the Fallout3.exe- Ordinal Not Found The ordinal 43 could not be located in the dynamic link library C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\xlive.dll error should be gone.

Method 2: Download the Missing DLL File

If the above method didn’t give you the results you wanted and the Fallout3.exe- Ordinal Not Found The ordinal 43 could not be located in the dynamic link library C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\xlive.dll error is still there, then try this method.

Since the error code specifically says there is a missing .dll file, you can download it right from the internet and copy it into your game’s installation folder. Here’s how to do it: 

1. 1. Click here to go to the website that thas the .dll file you need
2. 2. Scroll down to locate the available versions the website has for you. It is recommended that you select version 3.5.92.0 with the Games for Windows – LIVE DLL description
3. 3. Click on the Download tab and wait a couple of seconds for the download to begin
4. 4. Once it’s done, click on the download to access your downloads folder
5. 5. Right-click and extract all 
6. 6. Locate the xlive.dll file
7. 7. Right-click on it and select the copy option from the pop-up menu
8. 8. Now you need to locate the Fallout 3 installation folder
9. 9. If it’s in Steam, open it and go to Library at the top of the window and locate Fallout 3 in your list of games
10. 10. Right-click on Fallout 3 and select Properties
11. 11. Go to Locate Files and click Browser local files
12. 12. If you downloaded it originally from a CD, then you will need to right-click on the desktop shortcut and browse for the installation folder manually. It should be C..Program files>>Fallout 3
13. 13. Once you have located the installation folder, right-click anywhere in a blank spot and paste what you copied. You can also use the CTRL+V key combination
14. 14. Try to run your game again 

Method 3: Install An Older Graphics Card Driver

You would think it would be the other way around, but a newer graphics card sometimes won’t work on older games. A smart workaround to this is to install graphics card drivers that are before 2018. To get the right graphics card driver for Fallout 3, follow these instructions: 

1. 1. Click on Start and type Device manager
2. 2. Type devmgmt.msc in the dialog box and click OK
3. 3. Look for the display adapter on the list and expand it
4. 4. Right-click on the graphics card and choose Uninstall Device
5. 5. Click OK on each box that pops up asking if you want to confirm the uninstallation
6. 6. Go to the manufacturers’ website for your graphic card and search for the driver
7. 7. You will be presented with a list of possible drivers 
8. 8. Select one before 2018 and click on the Download button
9. 9. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed
10. 10. Once done, try to run Fallout 3 again

Method 4: Run In Compatibility Mode

Since Fallout 3 is so old, it may not be compatible with Windows 10 or other newer versions such as 8, 8,1, and 7. If this is the case, you simply need to change the compatibility mode for it to run.

1. 1. Locate your Fallout3.exe file. It will be in the same location as the in the above step that explained how to copy your .dll file
2. 2. If you have a shortcut on your desktop you can right-click on it and select Properties from the menu that pops up
3. 3. Locate the Compatibility tab and check the box that says Run this program as an administrator
4. 4. Look under the Compatibility mode section and choose Windows XP SP3 
5. 5. Accept the changes and exit
6. 6. Ensure you confirm that you want admin privileges 
7. 7. Try to run the game again

Method 5: Run SFC Command

If your xlive.dll is corrupted, you can get this error or a similar error when trying to get into Fallout 3 on your computer. You can execute the SFC command to help solve the issue quickly. Here’s how to do that: 

1. 1. Open your Start menu
2. 2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose to Run as administrator
3. 3. Once in the command prompt, type the command sfc /scannow and hit enter
4. 4. Wait until the scan is done as it may take a few minutes
5. 5. Once complete, type exit in command prompt
6. 6. Restart the game

Method 6: Reinstall the Game

If all else has failed, it may be a good idea to just reinstall the game completely. This tends to fix most .dll file related problems. You need to uninstall the game or software completely before you install it again. If not, the issue won’t be resolved.

You can uninstall the game by going into your Control Panel and looking at your Programs. A list will pop up showing you everything you have installed on your computer. Click on the program, in this case, Fallout 3, and choose to uninstall it. Once it has uninstalled, reinstall the game and try to play it again. 

Conclusion

As you can see there are plenty of ways to solve the Fallout3.exe- Ordinal Not Found The ordinal 43 could not be located in the dynamic link library C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\xlive.dll error.

As mentioned earlier, this is an issue with newer computers running older games such as Fallout 3. We hope that you were able to solve your error issue and get back to playing your game. Keep an eye out for more tips and tricks from us. 

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