DLL Error: Basic Causes and Solutions

The Dynamic Link Library, or DLL, is a folder in your computer that contains files that are used by more than one Windows program.  Rather than supply the same code for all of the programs that use it, Windows programmers direct each program to access the library in order to run properly.  It benefits you because it reduces the size of the operating system.

The DLL, however, can also be somewhat of a detriment to you, too, if you don’t take care of it.  While it is a convenient idea for programmers who want to avoid doing the same task over and over again, and for saving room on your HDD, the DLL can be the source of many problems. 

One of the most common errors you will encounter when using Windows is the DLL Error.  This error message informs you that a program cannot work because the particular file it is trying to access in the shared Dynamic Link Library is missing, corrupt, or incomplete.  Until you repair or replace this file it is likely that none of the programs that require it will be able to run properly or even at all.

There are really only two major root causes for errors in your Dynamic Link Library:

1)    Malicious software

2)    Registry errors

Because the Dynamic Link Library communicates to so many different shared programs within Windows, it is a common target for malware and spyware.  Just like a military strategy would target a major communication hub in order to disable an enemy, malware targets the DLL so that it can access as many programs as possible.  If this happens, then, you might see the DLL Error message because the malware software has “corrupted” one or many files in the Dynamic Link Library.

Obviously, you can try to prevent this with strong virus and malware security software as well as a firewall.  If these programs never get in they cannot cause problems when they try to carry out their mission.

Secondly, though, and perhaps more commonly, the DLL Error is the result of registry errors that are caused by frequent changes to Windows.  Usually, this is caused by installing and removing software, which then affects the DLL because it cannot access certain directories or files that no longer exist. 

If this is the case, then, you simply need to repair your registry.  You can either find the file that you need online and replace it within the DLL or you can use a registry repair program, which although are often free are also worth the money.