subject: General steps to fix dll errors [print this page] General steps to fix dll errors General steps to fix dll errors
While most DLL errors are unique there are some steps that you should attempt before attempting to search for and reinstall the DLL you need from the Internet. Not all websites are trustworthy and, as such, you run the very real risk of potentially installing a virus or spyware riddled DLL onto your system. In most cases you should be safe, but if you can avoid taking the risk then you will avoid the possibility altogether.
Close down all open applications after saving your existing work. Attempt to open the applications again, and calling the same features as you did when the problem manifested itself. This provides your system and the software with the opportunity to open properly and can genuinely improve your chances of a trouble free session.
The switch off and switch on technique has long been the butt of many an IT joke. However, it does help to resolve a lot of problems because it gives your system the opportunity to reopen necessary files, including the DLLs required by your system and the software you are running on it. Always restart your computer properly, whenever possible. Obviously, if your system has hung or crashed then this may not be an option for you. While it may only be a quick fix and not the most ideal solution, attempting to reopen applications in a different order may prevent the problem from occurring again.
Software updates are usually available from the vendor's or publisher's website. These updates may contain critical file updates and so should be one of your first ports of call. Most applications include an automatic updater, but whether you choose to use this automated system or manually install updates as and when they become available, ensure that you do download the latest patches and updates. These may contain newer and more efficient versions of DLLs that you need.
As well as updating the software, update any drivers for attached hardware or peripherals. Where appropriate you may want to attempt to update with the latest firmware for those accessories that have it. Both of these methods are likely to introduce the most recent changes to the hardware you use. Because DLLs are sometimes used in conjunction with hardware and peripherals this simple technique may prevent a lot of heartache.
Like the software on your system, the Windows operating system also has regular updates. By default, when you install the Windows operating system, you will be informed of any new updates or patches. You will also be given the opportunity to install them onto your computer. Windows updates include vital patches, as well as security installations that are required to plug any holes left by earlier version of the operating system.
If you receive a DLL error when you attempt to use one specific application or a particular function within that application then you can attempt to reinstall the software. Reinstalling will remove some of the files or DLLs that have become corrupt or problematic in any way and replace them with genuine, clean versions. This may not be the case for those DLLs that are stored as part of the Windows operating system, however.
Also, contacting the software vendor or author may generate good results. Many users will contact them during the lifetime of the software, with any problems they encounter. The more proactive manufacturers will almost certainly find a way to resolve the problem and either publish the steps you need to take online or at least have the answer to hand when you make your own enquiries. Look for a knowledge base or support forum, because these can contain help from knowledgeable third parties. In some cases, other users may have resolved the problem themselves, and posted the solution on these forums and in articles.
If the problem is in the Windows registry, then cleaning the registry may help to resolve the error and ensure that your software and operating system can run properly. Registry cleaning should be done using a good registry cleaner. This third party software searches through the various registry entries to find any errors, duplicates, and other problems. In most cases it can resolve the problems, leaving you with a more efficient system and largely error-free applications.
Antispyware and antivirus software should be a staple part of every computer system. While it's unfortunate, it's also a sad fact that the majority of us are prone to picking up spyware and virus threats when we are online, especially if we download files, or even if we read email. Some threats can be picked up by doing little more than surfing to an untrusted website. These can effect the DLLs that are installed on your computer and, often, those that are currently running when you become infected. Download the latest updates to your security software and run a deep scan of your entire system and the Windows registry to find any infections and to clear them up.
Replacing A Missing DLL
With many DLL errors, you will have to do your research to discover the exact reasons behind the error. A good place to start this research is the Microsoft knowledge base website. The knowledge base contains literally thousands of articles, many of them related to DLL errors providing the reasons, the symptoms of the error, and the advised resolution. Where a Windows update has been released to assist in the resolution, a link is also usually provided to make your life easier.
It is possible that the Windows knowledge base will not contain the answers you are looking for. Use one of the major search engines and enter either the full error message you are receiving or just the name of the DLL. When you search, you will typically be presented with a number of websites, forums, and other resources that provide possible solutions. Do remember, that while these sites can be extremely useful, they are not always affiliated with Windows or with the software that is generating the error message.
If your online research has not generated a solution then you might need to take it to the next step. The error message you receive should, in most cases, contain the name of the DLL that it is attempting to call but this information alone is not nearly enough to help resolve the problem. There are applications available that will find and list all of the DLLs and processes that running software is calling. It will also display the path to the DLL, which is invaluable information for your purposes. Look at the full DLL name, path, and version number and then navigate to this folder on your computer.
Once you have found the path where the DLL should be loaded you will be able to determine whether the file is missing, incorrectly named, or if there is another problem. If the file is incorrectly named then you can create a copy of the necessary DLL and rename this copy. Unless otherwise instructed you should leave the original "incorrectly named" DLL in this folder, in case it is required by another program. Renaming the copy means that you have both the original and the renamed version of it on your system.
Even the slightest difference in the name of the file will make a DLL inoperable. A missing digit, an extra digit, or the inclusion of a version number that is different to the one you require can render the DLL completely useless. However, different DLLs can also be given names that are very similar in appearance. To be safe, it may be best to download and install a version of the DLL that you know to be correct.
If the DLL appears to be missing altogether, then it could either be saved in a different location, or it could be missing altogether. The safest means to resolve either of these problems is to download the right version of the DLL and save it to the path that is being called by your software. Check you are downloading at least the desired version of the DLL, although most are backward compatible so it should be OK to download a later version. Also ensure that you save the DLL to the exact location that your software is calling. If you place it in the wrong folder, thereby giving it a different path to the one that the application is using, then you still will not be able to use the functions within the file.
