[Urgent] Application failed to start because it could not find or load the Qt platform plugin “windows”

[cywind]

After I just installed & used visual box and visual machine for my homework, I find that I cannot open one of the softwares (Davinci resolve for video editing) in my laptop (Windows 10) and show the error messages.

My project deadline is tomorrow. I have fear that if i reinstall the software, I will lost the project (which is not yet exported as mp4)

Sorry that I am new to programming. I have googled some sites, but I still don't understand what I should do. Maybe it is a repeated question, but could anyone give a hand? Thank you very much!

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20495620/qt-5-1-1-application-failed-to-start-because-platform-plugin-windows-is-missi?noredirect=1&lq=1
https://forum.qt.io/topic/90293/could-not-find-or-load-the-qt-platform-plugin-windows-in

[Pl45m4]

@cywind

You don't program anything, right? You used the software and now you see this error message?!
(Your software is based on Qt)

Have you tried to follow the steps as suggested in your linked threads?
If this doesn't fix your problem, you probably can't get around reinstalling your software. Creating a backup of your work before, shouldn't be a problem too.

[cywind]

@Pl45m4 Thank you for the quick help!

yes , only used the machine for checking IP address. I used the software and now see this error message.

I have tried to follow the steps but I don't understand them.

For example
// Open cmd and type echo %PATH% and press enter. You'll see a list separated by ; of folder paths. Go line by line and make sure they do not point to a folder that contains a platforms folder that has qwindows.dll in it. If you find such a path edit the PATH variable and remove it (just google: edit environmental variable windows #, where # is your windows version)

• I can see the list, but I don't understand the meaning of "make sure they do not point to a folder that contains a platforms folder that has qwindows.dll in it", then, "find such a path ", what path is it?

// Creating a backup of your work before
I can't open the software now, I am unsure the location of files which I should backup.

But your reminders are already very helpful. Thank you for your kindness and advice!

[SGaist]

Hi and welcome to devnet,

The idea is to find whether the installation of the two new softwares altered the PATH environment in such a way that DaVinci Resolve fails to find the required dependencies.

If so, remove these paths from your PATH environment variable and start DaVinci again to check.