If you have a computer or laptop running any one of the Windows operation systems, chances are that you would have encounter the very common error message that appears when you open any one of the programs on the computer. The error message notifies you that a certain file is missing and it has the .dll extension. You must have wondered what a DLL file is, and why is it so important for running several programs on your computer.
Basically, DLL is short for dynamic link library and a DLL file consists of a set of instructions that programs on your computer can call when they want to execute a certain task. If you are a programming whiz or enthusiast, you would be interested in knowing that DLL files are written in the C++ programming language, which means that you can also write the code for them on your own, or alter the code of an existing DLL file.
DLL files are located in the System32 folder of your Windows drive, but upon clicking them, you will not be able to open them. Therefore, we have come up with a set of steps that you can try to open DLL files and see what they contain.
What Does a DLL File Do?
In simple terms, a dynamic link library file, or DLL file, is used by several programs on your operating system to execute certain instructions. Normally, programs in your laptop or computer execute several different tasks on their own but for other tasks, their code simply ‘calls’ a DLL file and runs its instruction to perform the said task.
For instance, once of the DLL files is titled ‘Comdlg32’ and its function is to execute some tasks related to dialog boxes. Therefore, all the programs in your computer that have anything to do with dialog boxes can actually use the set of instructions embedded in this DLL file to perform dialog box related functions.
Why Would You Need to Open a DLL File?
Normally, DLL files should be left untouched as they can cause a disruption in different programs if their code is changed or they become corrupted, but there are two possible scenarios in which you would want to open them up.
Firstly, there are some cases in which your DLL file becomes lost and cannot be retrieved, and this may happen due to abnormal shutdown, malware, or even your negligence. Therefore, you are required to install and register a DLL file, and you may have to open it to ensure that it works properly.
Secondly, if you are a software developer or programmer who wants to understand the code inside a DLL file, or alter it to comply with one of your custom software, then you may need to open the file and explore its contents.
What Are The Methods to Open a DLL File?
If you simply left-click on a DLL file twice, it will ask you for a program on which you can run it, and none of the programs seem to work for this purpose. Therefore, you need a specialized program that can read .dll files, and there are two ways to go about it: using a decompiler, or using Microsoft Visual Studio. Let’s have a look at the steps involved in both methods one by one.
Opening DLL Files Using Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio is a type of Integrated Development Environment (IDE) software that is developed by Microsoft and although it doesn’t come pre-installed with any version of Windows, you can easily download it within minutes. The software is used to develop computer programs, websites, and much more. It can also help you read DLL files easily.
- In the Start Menu, look for the Visual Studio folder, navigate to Visual Studio Tools, and click on the VS Command Prompt to open it.
- Once the command prompt loads, type ‘ILDASM.exe’ and press Enter.
- Once this command is executed, go to C:/Windows/System32 and choose the DLL file you want to open.
- Left-click the chosen DLL file and drag it to the command prompt window.
- The command prompt will open the DLL file and you will be able to see its contents in the Visual Studio window.
Opening DLL Files Using a Decompiler
You can also make use of decompiler software to open the DLL files and see what is inside them. The basic purpose of a decompiler is to unpack the file and output the readable code. You can easily find a decompiler program on the web and install it easily. Once you have installed it, you can follow these steps to open any DLL file:
- Open the decompiler software you have just installed.
- Click on the File menu and then click on Open.
- In the pop-up window that opens, navigate to the location of the DLL file, and click on Open.
- The file will load up and the Assembly Explorer pane of the decompiler will show the nodes of the DLL file.
- Click on the nodes to expand them and view their code in the main window.
And this is how you can open up a DLL file and view what it encapsulates. However, make sure that you know what you are doing before you change even a single dot in the code, as it can be quite catastrophic if you can’t track your changes. Viewing the DLL files and reading their code will help you understand how instructions are embedded in them and how they play a role in running different programs smoothly.