The "Failed to open for reading. Error code: 2" is a common Windows system error that typically occurs when launching high-performance software, specifically modern video games like Genshin Impact , Dying Light , or Titanfall 2 . What Causes This Error?
Before diving into the fixes, it helps to understand why this error happens. The most frequent causes include:
: Corrupted or missing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables often trigger library-loading failures. Registry Corruption
on the game causing the error and select Properties . Go to the Installed Files tab. failed to open dlllist.txt for reading error code 2
For persistent Windows-level errors, some users have success creating a specific registry key to refresh string caches: Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MUI in the Registry Editor. Create a new Key named StringCacheSettings Inside that key, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named StringCacheGeneration and set its value to (Hexadecimal). Microsoft Learn
Now that you know what the error means and what causes it, it's time to fix it. The solutions below are organized from the simplest and quickest to the most advanced.
The script likely contains a line that says: OpenFile("dlllist.txt", READ) The "Failed to open for reading
Go to and click Verify integrity of game files .
In Windows system programming, corresponds to:
related to that software before restarting the installation. Check Antivirus Logs: Occasionally, antivirus software flags and quarantines the dlllist.txt file or the DLLs it references, leading to this read error. Microsoft Learn Advanced Registry Fix Before diving into the fixes, it helps to
: The application often lacks the necessary Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable files required to identify system DLLs.
If the above steps fail, you may need to manually create a missing cache key in the Windows Registry: Microsoft Learn , and hit Enter. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MUI Right-click , and name it StringCacheSettings Inside this new key, create a DWORD (32-bit) Value StringCacheGeneration Value data (Hexadecimal) and restart your computer. Microsoft Learn where this error is appearing?
If the software is executed via a shortcut, the "Start in" directory might be wrong. Right-click the shortcut, select .
This error most frequently occurs when launching video games (such as Genshin Impact Titanfall 2 Phasmophobia ) or specific software installers like Corsair iCUE. Primary Cause: The application is looking for a file named dlllist.txt