On a Microsoft Windows-based computer, DLL or Dynamic Library files are used to store executable code modules that can be loaded and linked at runtime when required, and then unloaded when the code is no longer required. DLL files are used both by Windows operating systems and the programs installed on them. DLL files help in efficient use of system resources, especially disk space and system memory.
Causes of DLL Errors
There are hundreds of DLL files on your Windows computer, out of which several are shipped with the operating system and several others are added or updated as you add new software to the system or update the existing software. Due to the large number of DLL files on the system there can be several causes of DLL errors. Some of the common reasons for DLL errors are:
- Outdated and incompatible DLL files
- Missing DLL files
- Buggy and corrupt DLL files
- Conflicting DLL files
When you start encountering DLL errors often on your computer, your system is said to be in DLL hell.
Fixing DLL Errors
DLL errors are usually dealt with based on the cause of the error. If you encounter a DLL error soon after installing a new software, it is quite possible that one or more shared DLL files have been overwritten with an incompatible or older version. For instance, you may encounter errors, such as the msnp32.dll error if the file mentioned in the error message is either corrupt or deleted from the system. In this case, if the file is a system file, you may extract the original version of the file from the operating system CD/DVD to fix the error. If the file belongs to a software, you may try to reinstall or update the software to resolve the error message. Although it is not recommended, you may also try to copy the missing file from another computer with a similar configuration or download it from a reliable DLL Internet database to its location on your computer.
At times, errors such as the msvcr80.dll missing error may be displayed if the application being installed on your computer does not support the WinSxS folder (side-by-side cache). This feature is used by a few versions of Windows operating systems to enable side-by-side existence of multiple versions of the same file on a system without causing any conflicts. To resolve the error, you first need to ensure that the required version of the DLL file is in the WinSxS folder. If it is, it may be corrupt or damaged and you may need to replace the file. If the file does not exist, you may have to create a new manifest. The best way to resolve the error in this situation is to contact the application manufacturer for a solution.
Missing DLL errors may also occur if one or more required DLL files are deleted when you remove a program from the PC. In this case, the best way to resolve the issue is to reinstall the program you removed. Next, uninstall the program again but retain the shared DLL files that are needed by other programs.
DLL errors may also occur due to hardware problems. To resolve issues in this case, you may use a good hardware and memory diagnostics tool to detect the problems. If there is a problem with a particular hardware device, you may have to replace it to resolve the error.
Last but not least, regularly scan and repair registry problems with the help of a good registry tool. This is important because many shared and missing DLL errors are generated due to incorrect and invalid registry entries.
