This error is almost always caused by a missing 32-bit library, even if you are on a 64-bit version of Windows.
After downloading ( vcredist_x86.exe ), run the installer as Administrator. If you get a "Command line option syntax error," extract the EXE using WinRAR or 7-Zip and run the internal VCREDI~3.EXE manually.
The game requires (sometimes 2008) redistributables. On modern Windows (10/11), these are either missing or corrupted. The error appears because the game’s manifest file expects an exact runtime version.
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