DLL Errors: Causes and Solutions

If you have worked with computers for any amount of time, you have probably noticed that they have an affinity for errors. One such error that is commonly seen popping up on computer screens across the world is the DLL error. DLL errors are associated with DLL or Dynamic Link Library files. These files are used in Windows to save codes that can be loaded and executed as and when required by software on your system. While the name itself may stop you from trying to troubleshoot this error yourself, most of these errors can be easily resolved without calling technical support professionals who charge a lot of money.

Since DLLs are nothing but files they can be vulnerable to computer errors just like any other files. As these files are common files that are extensively used by various applications as well as the operating system of your computer, the probability of DLL problems is quite high.

Causes of DLL Errors

Let us begin by analyzing the causes of DLL file errors and then proceed to finding their solutions:

Missing and outdated errors: These errors usually occur when the DLL files on your computer are overwritten by an older version when a new software is installed, or removed, or when you uninstall a corrupted software due to malware infections or other such issues. For instance, the msvcrt.dll error may occur if the original DLL file is overwritten by a third-party file that comprises all the required functions. Similarly, msvcp71.dll may occur if the file is overwritten by an outdated version during a software installation.

Hardware problems: A malfunctioning hard disk, memory and CPU are some of the common causes of DLL errors, such as the ntdll.dll error. Hardware-related errors may also occur if your device drivers are outdated.

Malware infections: Malware programs such as virus and spyware may infect your legitimate DLL files or copy malicious files on your computer to generate errors and prevent your PC from functioning normally.

Registry Errors: DLL files need to add an entry in the registry. If these entries are damaged or corrupt then DLL errors may occur.

Methods to Fix DLL Errors

The first thing that you must do when ever an error message is displayed on your PC is to search for a solution on the Internet. The Microsoft knowledgebase and several other third-party websites carry a large amount of information that can help you identify the cause of these problems and also provide you with a solution.

Methods to Resolve DLL Errors

Depending on when and how the error occurs, you may use one of the following methods to resolve the issue:

• If the error appears soon after you install a new software, try to update the software to see if any outdated files copied with it can be updated. You may try to obtain the new version of the program from the Internet or another PC with a similar configuration and copy it to your system to resolve the issue. If nothing works, you may perform a system restore to get rid of the problem.
• If the error occurs after you remove a program, install it again to replace any files that where removed. You may uninstall this program later but retain the files that are shared with other programs.
• To prevent problems due to hardware malfunction, you must ensure that your device drivers are always up-to-date. You can easily achieve this goal with the help of a reliable driver scanner tool. You may also use a good PC diagnostics tool to keep a check on your hardware and identify any physical problems with the hardware.
• To fix and prevent errors due to malware infections, ensure that you have robust antivirus and antispyware tools on your PC. Keep these tools updated and schedule regular full system scans to ensure that you stay free from errors.
• If incorrect registry entries are behind the DLL errors, you may use a dependable registry tool to scan your registry for incorrect DLL entries and fix them.