Computers have been in use for more than forty years now but there has been no respite from computer errors. In fact, with the advent of the Internet, computers have become more susceptible to problems caused by malicious software and online criminals.

The problem is further compounded by the increasingly large number of software applications that we install on our computers.

The only way to minimize the agony and losses caused by computer problems is by taking the responsibility of combating this menace on your own.

This task involves adopting a two step strategy – learning to protect your computer from computer errors and learning to repair common errors yourselves.

Despite the common notion, it is not difficult to do this. This article will show you how you can prevent and solve one such frequently occurring category of errors – DLL errors.

The majority of DLL errors are caused by missing DLL files. Listed below are common examples of missing DLL error messages:

• File mfc80u.dll not found
• Could not locate file msvcr80.dll
• Unable to start this application – an important component npptools.dll is missing. Reinstalling the application may fix the error

A DLL may go missing on your system due to following reasons:

• Deletion of the DLL by mistake.
• Removal of the DLL during uninstallation of any program/application.
• Overwriting of required DLL file by an incompatible or outdated file.
• Malware infection.

Steps to Fix Missing DLL errors

Step 1

If the missing DLL error appears due to accidental removal of DLL file, then first check the contents of the Recycle Bin. If you find the file there, restore it to fix the DLL error.

In case you deleted the DLL by mistake and have also emptied the contents of the Recycle Bin, you may take help of a free file recovery program to get back the missing DLL. If you are sure that you have not deleted the DLL file, move to the next step.

Step 2

DLLs may go missing during uninstallation of a program or application. If you receive a missing DLL error message soon after you have uninstalled an application, reinstall the removed program to correct the error. When you install a program, all the files that are required by the program are installed on your PC.

Step 3

If the above two reasons are not the cause behind the missing DLL error then you need to get a copy of the missing DLL from an external source. You can either download the missing DLL from a legitimate DLL download website or procure it from a computer with same configuration as your system. It is important to save the DLL file to its original location to prevent any future complications.

Step 4

If the error appears soon after you install a program, it is quite likely that the required DLL file is overwritten by an incorrect version. In this case, try to look for an update for a program. If you find one, then installing this update may resolve the error. Otherwise, uninstall this new program and perform system restore to rollback system settings and files to the time when the PC for free from errors.

Step 5

Use updated antivirus and antispyware tools to perform a thorough full system scan and get rid of any malicious data resident on your system.

Tips to Prevent DLL Errors From Occurring

Follow the do’s and don’ts mentioned below to keep your system free from DLL errors:

• Do not delete a shared DLL during uninstallation of any program/application.
• Do not overwrite a current version of DLL with an older version while installing a new program/application.
• Keep your operating system, software and drivers up-do-date with the latest security releases.
• Install a reliable antivirus and antispyware tool on your system.
• Maintain an error-free and compact Windows registry.

DLL errors if ignored can develop into serious problems. Take steps to fix as well as prevent future occurrences so that you can enjoy error-free computing for a long time.