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Causes And Solutions To DLL Errors

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According to a famous computer journal, DLL errors are among the most frequently encountered application errors on Windows computers. However, only 5% of users are aware of what the term DLL stands for and have absolutely no idea how these errors crop up. Therefore, it is not surprising that a majority of users do not have any solutions to these problems.

The truth is that DLL errors are one of the easiest computer errors to solve and there is no need to get intimidated by them. This article will help you understand DLL files, the root causes behind these errors and finally simple solutions to get rid of them.

What is a DLL file?

A DLL file contains codes that allow it to perform specific functions. A single DLL file can be used by multiple applications that need to perform the same functions. On a single PC there are an innumerable number of DLLs present. Therefore, it is not surprising that every now and then a DLL error surfaces on your computer.

Causes and Solutions to DLL Errors

Listed below are common causes of DLL errors, such as the msvcr80.dll, msvbvm60.dll, and msvcp71.dll errors and their solutions.

Missing DLL file

The majority of DLL errors occur when a DLL file is missing from your computer. Discussed below are reasons due to which a DLL file may go missing and the steps you can follow to rectify the issue.

  • Removal of the DLL file by mistake

    If you have removed a DLL file, such as the msvbvm60.dll file by mistake, check the contents of your Recycle Bin and restore the file from there. If you have also removed the DLL file from the Recycle Bin, use a reliable third-party recovery tool to restore the DLL file.

  • Removal of the DLL file during unisntallation of a program

    Incorrect unisntallation of a program may cause a shared DLL to go missing. If this is the case, reinstall the removed program and then uninstall it again. You should always use either the built-in Add or Remove Programs utility or a third-party tool to uninstall programs from your computer.

    If the reason for the missing DLL is other than the two reasons discussed above, you may download the missing DLL file from a reliable online free DLL Directory and copy it to its location on the hard disk.

  • Overwriting of a current version of a DLL file by an older version

    When you install an old version of software, a current version of the DLL file may get overwritten with an older version. This results in DLL errors due to a compatibility issue. To rectify the issue, either install the latest version of the software or download the latest version of the DLL from the Internet.

  • Usage of outdated drivers

    Outdated driver files may also lead to DLL errors. Update your drivers regularly to avoid DLL errors occurring due to driver problems. You may use a reliable driver scanner tool to ensure that all your drivers are up-to-date.

  • Malware infection

    Malware programs corrupt your DLL files and cause recurring DLL errors, such as msvcr80.dll and msvcp71.dll errors. Run a malware scan on your computer, using advanced antivirus and antispyware tools to fix DLL issues occurring due to these malicious programs.

  • Corrupt and unhealthy registry

    It is no secret that a corrupt registry causes various system errors, including DLL errors. It is imperative that you keep your registry clean and healthy. You can achieve this by scheduling regular registry scans using efficient registry cleaning software.

Comments

Causes And Solutions To DLL Errors — 3 Comments

  1. Sometimes DLL errors are the fault of the developer. This can happen when they statically link to functions in a system DLL that do not exist in all versions of Windows. Even if they detect the Windows version and never actually call the function, Windows tries to preload it into memory in case the application will. When the function can’t be found, the application crashes. (usually when you first try to run it)

    This happens most frequently when the developer isn’t very experienced and only writes his software for whatever version of Windows he is using, tries to do some “fancy tricks”, doesn’t test it on anything else, and someone with an older version of Windows tries to run the application.

    There isn’t anything you can do to fix this type of DLL error, as a user. This is something that should be reported to the developer as a software bug.

    Another type of DLL error is when the particular DLL needs to be registered with the operating system in order to work. The file isn’t missing, it is right where it belongs, the correct version and everything, but it still just won’t work. This is something best fixed by someone with some experience with these things, as incorrect usage of regsvr32.exe can have some negative effects on your system.

  2. Really good article and comment. Personally I don’t encounter DLL errors often and neither do any of my customers. If I do encounter one, I find that the easiest solution is to reinstall the application or the visual basic/c runtime/environment library.

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