System runtime DLL missing
What it means
A system file this program needs to start is missing on this PC.
Why it happens
Visual Pinball X and VPinMAME rely on Microsoft libraries (Visual C++, sometimes DirectX 9) installed separately. Without them, Windows refuses to start the program.
How Pincab Toolbox detects it
The list of DLLs the program imports is read from its own file, then each DLL is looked for next to the program, in the system folder of its bitness (32 or 64-bit), in Windows and in PATH.
Check your own pincab
Pincab Toolbox is a free Windows scanner for Visual Pinball X and PinUP Popper. It finds and explains problems like this one. No account, no telemetry.
Download for freeCovered: Visual Pinball X (10.x) and PinUP Popper. Not covered: Future Pinball, Pinball FX, Visual Pinball 9 and the other frontends (PinballX, PinballY).