The error means the application needs the Windows API function DiscardVirtualMemory, but the version of KERNEL32.dll supplied by Windows 7 does not export it. The dependable fix is to run the application on a Windows release it supports—typically Windows 10 or newer in the documented cases—or install an older, vendor-supported version of the application. Do not download a replacement KERNEL32.dll from the web.
What the “DiscardVirtualMemory” entry-point error means
Windows displays a message similar to:
The procedure entry point DiscardVirtualMemory could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.dllThis is a startup and compatibility error. Before an application can open, the Windows loader resolves the functions that the program expects to find in system libraries. The application is asking for an exported function named DiscardVirtualMemory. In the Microsoft Q&A cases associated with this message, the Windows 7 version of KERNEL32.dll does not contain that export. The loader cannot complete the request, so Windows stops the program before its normal interface appears.
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The wording can make the problem look like a damaged DLL. Usually it is not. The file may be intact; the application and operating system simply expose different API contracts. Copying a newer DLL over the system file does not safely add the missing operating-system support and can make Windows unstable.
Why Windows 7 produces it
A newer application calls an API Windows 7 does not provide
Applications are built against a minimum Windows version. When a developer begins using an API that is absent from an older release, the program can install successfully but fail at launch. The examples discussed in Microsoft support threads include Ubisoft Launcher, Streamlabs, Session and other applications whose newer builds require Windows 10 or a later release.
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The failure happens before ordinary troubleshooting applies
Because the loader fails first, reinstalling graphics drivers, deleting a program’s cache or changing an in-app setting normally cannot solve this particular message. Those steps can help a different crash that occurs after startup, but they do not create an absent export in Windows 7’s system library.
It is not, by itself, proof of malware
The message identifies an unresolved function call, not an infection. A modified or counterfeit system file could create other problems, but the documented Windows 7 cases are explained by an API-version mismatch. Continue to use normal security practices, but do not treat the message as a reason to run an unverified “DLL fixer.”
Confirm the operating system and the affected application
Check the facts before changing Windows or searching for an older installer. Record the exact application name and version, because one release may support Windows 7 while a later release does not.
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- Press Windows+R, type
winver, and press Enter. Note whether the computer is running Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 or Windows 11, including the edition and build shown in the dialog. - For a more detailed record, open Command Prompt and run
systeminfo. Save the OS name, version and system type; this helps when checking a vendor’s requirements or asking for support. - Find the application’s version. If it will not open, right-click its shortcut or executable, choose Properties, open Details, and read File version. The launcher’s installer name or the folder’s version information may also identify the release.
- Open the application developer’s current system-requirements page from a different device if necessary. Look specifically for the minimum Windows release, not merely whether the installer can run.
- Write down whether the error occurs with one application or several. One affected program usually indicates that its current build has raised the minimum OS requirement. Several unrelated programs failing after a system change justify a broader Windows integrity and hardware investigation.
Do not infer support from another user’s result. A workaround reported for one application version can fail after an update, and a program may support Windows 7 in one region or product edition but not another.
Fix 1: move to a Windows release the application supports
For the documented examples, Windows 10 or newer is the stated baseline. Treat that as a starting point, not a guarantee for every application: check the vendor’s current requirements before upgrading. A supported operating system is the most durable option because it supplies the expected API set and allows the application to receive compatible updates.
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Prepare before upgrading
- Back up personal files to an external drive or a cloud service you control. Include browser profiles, project folders, saved games and application data that is not synchronized.
- Record license keys, sign-in methods and two-factor-authentication recovery codes. Export application settings when the vendor provides an export function.
- Check hardware requirements, free storage and activation status for the Windows edition you plan to install. Older computers may not meet the requirements for a newer release.
- Disconnect nonessential peripherals during the upgrade and ensure the computer is connected to reliable power.
- Download Windows only through Microsoft’s official update or installation channels. Avoid repacked installers that bundle unknown software.
Choose an in-place upgrade or a clean installation
An in-place upgrade can preserve compatible applications and personal files, reducing migration work. A clean installation can remove accumulated configuration problems but requires you to reinstall programs and restore data. Follow the options presented by Microsoft’s installer and read the retention choice carefully; do not assume that a clean install will preserve anything.
Verify the result
- After Windows finishes installing, run
winveragain and confirm the expected release and build. - Install current chipset, graphics, network and other device drivers from the computer or component manufacturer when required.
- Download the application from its legitimate publisher, install the supported release and launch it.
- If the same entry-point message appears on the newer Windows release, check the application’s requirements again and contact its publisher. The program may require a newer build than the one installed, or the error may have a different cause.
Upgrading changes the computer’s security-update position, driver compatibility and application environment, so make the decision based on the whole system rather than this one message alone.
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If upgrading is impossible because of hardware, software or policy constraints, the practical alternative is a version of the application that still supports Windows 7. A Microsoft answer addressing the Ubisoft Launcher case specifically recommends locating an older launcher release that retained Windows 7 support.
Find a trustworthy installer
- Check the application publisher’s support archive, release notes or official support ticket. Ask for the last release that explicitly lists Windows 7.
- Use an installer whose publisher and digital signature can be verified. Keep the download and its checksum if the publisher provides one.
- Do not rely on a random file-hosting site, a repack, or an installer that promises to replace system DLLs.
- Before removing the current version, export settings and note the installation path. Some launchers store downloads or saves outside the program folder.
Install and prevent an immediate re-upgrade
- Uninstall the incompatible build through Control Panel > Programs and Features or the application’s own uninstaller.
- Restart Windows if the publisher’s instructions request it. Remove only leftover folders that the publisher identifies; do not delete shared system directories.
- Install the older build, then test it before restoring every plug-in or modification.
- Review the application’s update settings. If automatic updating would immediately install a Windows-10-only build, disable it only if the publisher’s terms and your security policy permit doing so.
An older build may lack security fixes, features and service compatibility. If the publisher no longer supports it, isolate the Windows 7 computer from sensitive work, limit exposed services and plan a migration rather than treating the older release as a permanent security strategy.
Fix 3: try a compatibility shim only for a specific application
A compatibility shim changes how a particular program interacts with Windows. It does not add DiscardVirtualMemory to every program or turn Windows 7 into Windows 10. A GOG forum report described VxKex working with Noreya version 1.0.0, while noting that later releases were not tested. That is an application- and version-specific report, not a universal repair.
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Use a shim cautiously
- Identify the exact executable and version that fails. Record the original installation path and create a restore point if your Windows edition supports it.
- Read the shim project’s documentation and compatibility list. Confirm that the project supports your Windows edition and the application version.
- Download the shim only from its legitimate project source, inspect the installer, and scan it with your normal security software.
- Apply the setting to the application executable, not to
KERNEL32.dlland not globally to every program. - Test the application with a clean profile. If it crashes, behaves unpredictably, or fails after an update, remove the shim and restore the original setting.
Do not use a shim for software that handles sensitive information unless you understand the trust and maintenance implications. A shim can stop working when the application changes its executable, updates its protection, or calls additional APIs that Windows 7 lacks.
Repair the application only after the OS compatibility check
Reinstallation is reasonable when the publisher confirms that the installed build supports your Windows release. It is not a substitute for that confirmation.
- Close the application and its background processes in Task Manager.
- Back up application data and settings.
- Uninstall the program using its supported uninstaller.
- Restart Windows.
- Install a verified build that lists your Windows version as supported.
- Launch it before adding extensions, overlays or third-party plug-ins.
If the same entry-point error returns immediately with a freshly installed, supported build, collect the exact message, Windows build, application version and any installer logs for the publisher. Do not keep replacing files at random; the details will help support distinguish an API mismatch from a damaged installation.
What not to do with KERNEL32.dll
Do not download a replacement DLL
Third-party DLL sites cannot safely supply the operating-system API contract that the application expects. Their files may be the wrong build, digitally untrusted, bundled with malware, or incompatible with other Windows components. Even a genuine file copied from another computer can have the wrong servicing level and ownership.
Do not overwrite the file in System32 or SysWOW64
KERNEL32.dll is a core Windows component protected by the operating system. Taking ownership, changing permissions or forcing a replacement can break updates, system tools and other applications. The documented problem is that Windows 7 lacks the export; overwriting the file is not a supported way to add it.
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Do not mistake unrelated repairs for this fix
System File Checker, Deployment Image Servicing and Management, registry cleaners and driver updates have legitimate uses for other faults. They cannot make a missing Windows 7 API appear. Run repair commands only when you have evidence of broader system corruption and use Microsoft’s documented syntax and recovery guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare the available paths
| Option | Windows 7 support | Durability | Security and update outlook | Migration effort | Reversible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to a release supported by the application | Not applicable; moves away from Windows 7 | Highest when the application’s requirements are met | Best chance of receiving compatible OS and application updates | Moderate to high, depending on hardware and retained files | Only if you made a backup or have a tested rollback plan |
| Install an older vendor-supported application build | Yes, if that specific release lists Windows 7 | Moderate; future services may stop accepting it | Older application may miss security and feature updates | Usually lower than an OS migration | Usually; keep the installer and exported data |
| Application-specific compatibility shim | Sometimes; depends on the program and exact version | Low to moderate; updates can break it | Depends on the shim and application; not a substitute for OS support | Low initially, but troubleshooting can be substantial | Generally, by removing the shim |
Replace or download KERNEL32.dll |
No supported solution | Unsafe and unreliable | Can damage Windows servicing and security | Appears easy but can create major recovery work | Not safely reversible without system recovery |
If the message still appears after your chosen fix
Confirm that the program is actually using the new environment
Check the shortcut target and installation path. You may be launching an old copy from another folder, a scheduled task, or a game launcher’s cached executable. Right-click the running process in Task Manager when possible and choose Open file location to identify the copy being started.
Check for a second dependency error
Some applications display the same entry-point wording for another DLL after the first problem is addressed. Capture the complete filename and function name. Do not substitute a generic DLL because its name looks similar.
Test without add-ons
Disable overlays, plug-ins, injected monitoring tools and custom launch parameters. An add-on compiled for a newer Windows release can fail even when the main application supports your system. Re-enable components one at a time after a clean launch.
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If Windows itself shows additional crashes, missing services or update failures, back up your data and use Microsoft’s supported recovery options. A repair installation or system restore may be appropriate for corruption unrelated to the API mismatch. They should be chosen based on those symptoms, not as a way to manufacture DiscardVirtualMemory.
Ask the publisher for a compatibility decision
Provide the application name and version, Windows edition and build, the exact error text, installation source and steps that reproduce it. Ask whether the publisher offers a Windows 7 build or requires Windows 10 or newer. This produces a definitive answer faster than trying multiple unofficial files.
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Practical checklist
- Copy the exact error, including the function and DLL names.
- Run
winverand record the Windows edition and build. - Identify the application executable and version.
- Verify the publisher’s minimum Windows requirement.
- Prefer a supported Windows upgrade when hardware and policy allow it.
- If Windows 7 must remain, obtain an older build directly from the publisher or an authorized support channel.
- Use a compatibility shim only for the exact application and version, and remove it if it causes instability.
- Never download or overwrite
KERNEL32.dll. - Back up data before changing the operating system or downgrading an application.
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