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How to fix Delta Force error code 126 tdatamaster.dll missing – best methods

Game won't launch? Here's the reason why
Jack Goodall
Last Updated on
How to fix Delta Force error code 126 tdatamaster.dll missing – best methods
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Table of Contents

Delta Force (formerly known as Delta Force: Hawk Ops) has finally been released to all via an open beta. The game is a long-awaited return to the Delta Force series and you could say it acts as a reboot. In any case, as a free-to-play title, players have been flocking to the game upon release to give it a try.

However, like many PC game releases, not everything is going smoothly for some players. For example, Delta Force may be crashing or stuttering on your PC and even seems to be broken on AMD GPUs. We’ve also seen reports of people experiencing ‘error 126 tdatamaster.dll missing’ – an error code that prevents you from launching the game altogether. So, we’ve done our research and put together a list of fixes to help resolve the issue.

What is error code 126 in Delta Force?

Missing files is one reason why games may fail to load (or any kind of program). The root of this error is the missing ‘tdatamaster.dll’ file. This DLL file is integral to launching the game as it will contain data and code which is presumably shared with the game executable, hence the error code if the file is not found.

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Luckily, there seems to be a pretty reliable fix for this issue and Delta Force isn’t the only game that may be affected. Undawn is another game built on the Unreal Engine which experiences a similar problem, and the fix is reportedly shared. Interstingly, Delta Force uses UE4 for multiplayer and UE5 for its campaign.

How to fix error code 126 in Delta Force

You should be able to get Delta Force up and running again with one of the methods below.

Run UE4PrereqSetup_x64

Ensuring all appropriate game files are installed correctly with this setup executable will be the best fix for many people.

Step

1

Locate your game files

The first step is to locate your game files, for Steam users, they should be somewhere like: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Delta Force. If you’re playing via Epic Games, try looking in Program Files\Epic Games\Delta Force.

On Steam, if you don’t know exactly where Delta Force is installed, you can go to your Steam Library > search for Delta Force > Right-click Delta Force > Manage > Browse local files

Step

2

Run the setup file

Now in the local game files, you’ll want to navigate to an executable called ‘UE4PrereqSetup_x64’ – you should find this by following this path of folders: Delta Force\Game\Engine\Extras\Redist\en-us

Then, simply run the executable and it will run through some prerequisites again and install the missing ‘tdatamaster.dll’ file.

Install the Media Feature Pack (for Windows 10/11 N Edition)

If you’re using the ‘N’ edition of Windows 10 or 11, you may be missing some media-related technologies that don’t come preinstalled with the operating system.

Step

1

Go to Windows app settings

The first step is to open your Windows settings and locate the ‘Apps’ settings.

You can either search for settings in the Windows search bar/start menu, or simply press Windows Key + I

Then, click on ‘Apps’

Step

2

Add optional feature

On Windows 10 N, go to ‘Apps and Features’ > ‘Optional features’ > ‘Add a feature’

On Windows 11 N, go to ‘Optional features’ > ‘View features’

If you fail to find the ‘Optional features’ setting, you can search for it instead and select ‘Add an optional feature’

Step

3

Add Media Feature Pack

Once you are in the adding feature menu, look for ‘Media Feature Pack’ and select the checkbox.

Then, click on Next > Install (you may need to restart your PC once it is installed).

Verify your game files

Much like the first method, there may be an error with your game files. To resolve this you can verify them.

Step

1

Go to Delta Force settings

To locate the Delta Force settings on Steam, go to your Steam Library > search for Delta Force > Right-click Delta Force > ‘Properties’

Step

2

Verifiy integrity of game files

Within the properties, go to the ‘Installed Files’ tab on the left side, then click ‘Verify Integrity of game files’

If you’re playing via the Epic Games Launcher, you can find Delta Force in the game library > click the ‘three dots’ icon > ‘Manage’ > ‘Verify’

Final word

That covers some of the best fixes for error code 126. If you’re still having trouble, you can try running the game in compatibility mode on Windows (find game executable file > Right-click > ‘Properties’ > ‘Compatibility > ‘Run this program in compatibility mode’. Failing that, restarting your PC, or reinstalling the game entirely may help fix the game.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you get Delta Force in working order. Luckily the game isn’t too difficult to run thanks to lenient system requirements, however, you may want to check out our best GPU for Delta Force or best laptop for Delta Force guides if you’re in the market for an upgrade right now.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.