What are PatternMasks.dat Error Messages?

Dynamic Link Library PatternMasks.dat Errors

PatternMasks.dat is considered a type of Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file. Dynamic Link Library files, like PatternMasks.dat, are essentially a "guide book" that stores information and instructions for executable (EXE) files - like dpnsvr.exe - to follow. These files were created so that multiple programs (eg. Age of Empires II) could share the same PatternMasks.dat file, saving valuable memory allocation, therefore making your computer run more efficiently.

Unfortunately, what makes DLL files so convenient and efficient, also makes them extremely vulnerable to problems. If something happens to a shared DAT file, either it goes missing or gets corrupted in some way, it can generate a "runtime" error message. Runtime is pretty self-explanatory; it means that these errors are triggered when PatternMasks.dat is attempted to be loaded either when Age of Empires II is starting up, or in some cases already running. Some of the most common PatternMasks.dat errors include:

• Access Violation at address - PatternMasks.dat.
• PatternMasks.dat could not be found.
• Cannot find C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II The Conquerors Expansion Trial\Data\PatternMasks.dat.
• Cannot register PatternMasks.dat.
• Cannot start Age of Empires II. A required component is missing: PatternMasks.dat. Please install Age of Empires II again.
• Failed to load PatternMasks.dat.
• The application has failed to start because PatternMasks.dat was not found.
• The file PatternMasks.dat is missing or corrupt.
• This application failed to start because PatternMasks.dat was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

Your PatternMasks.dat file could be missing due to accidental deletion, uninstalled as a shared file of another program (shared with Age of Empires II), or deleted by a malware infection. Furthermore, PatternMasks.dat file corruption could be caused from a power outage when loading Age of Empires II, system crash while loading PatternMasks.dat, bad sectors on your storage media (usually your primary hard drive), or quite commonly, a malware infection. Thus, it's critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

How to Fix PatternMasks.dat Errors in 3 Steps (Time to complete: ~5-15 minutes)

If you're encountering one of the error messages above, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve your PatternMasks.dat issue. These troubleshooting steps are listed in the recommended order of execution.

To begin System Restore (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. When you see the search box, type "System Restore" and press "ENTER".
3. In the search results, find and click System Restore.
4. Please enter the administrator password (if applicable / prompted).
5. Follow the steps in the System Restore Wizard to choose a relevant restore point.
6. Restore your computer to that backup image.

If the Step 1 fails to resolve the PatternMasks.dat error, please proceed to the Step 2 below.

You can uninstall Age of Empires II software by following these instructions (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. In the search box, type "Uninstall" and press "ENTER".
3. In the search results, find and click "Add or Remove Programs"
4. Find the entry for Age of Empires II (not specified) and click "Uninstall"
5. Follow the prompts for uninstallation.

After the software has been fully uninstalled, restart your PC and reinstall Age of Empires II software.

If this Step 2 fails as well, please proceed to the Step 3 below.

Age of Empires II (not specified)

Ensemble Studios

When the first two steps haven't solved your issue, it might be a good idea to run Windows Update. Many PatternMasks.dat error messages that are encountered can be contributed to an outdated Windows Operating System. To run Windows Update, please follow these easy steps:

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. In the search box, type "Update" and press "ENTER".
3. In the Windows Update dialog box, click "Check for Updates" (or similar button depending on your Windows version)
4. If updates are available for download, click "Install Updates".
5. After the update is completed, restart your PC.

If Windows Update failed to resolve the PatternMasks.dat error message, please proceed to next step. Please note that this final step is recommended for advanced PC users only.

If Those Steps Fail: Download and Replace Your PatternMasks.dat File (Caution: Advanced)

If none of the previous three troubleshooting steps have resolved your issue, you can try a more aggressive approach (Note: Not recommended for amateur PC users) by downloading and replacing your appropriate PatternMasks.dat file version. We maintain a comprehensive database of 100% malware-free PatternMasks.dat files for every applicable version of Age of Empires II. Please follow the steps below to download and properly replace you file:

1. Locate your Windows operating system version in the list of below "Download PatternMasks.dat Files".
2. Click the appropriate "Download Now" button and download your Windows file version.
3. Copy this file to the appropriate Age of Empires II folder location:
   
   Windows 10: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II The Conquerors Expansion Trial\Data\
   
4. Restart your computer.

If this final step has failed and you're still encountering the error, you're only remaining option is to do a clean installation of Windows 10.

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