There are several terms and concepts that people don’t know about, unless they receive an error on their computer or laptop. One of the very common terms is a ‘DLL’ file, which you encounter when a certain program or application fails to open. You might have encountered the “DLL file is missing” error message at least once on your Windows computer.
Although it is quite easy to deal with the problem through a quick Google search, it is important to know what a DLL file is and why your operating system cares if it isn’t found. After all, no one likes it if their applications keep crashing rather than working. This article covers everything you need to know about DLL files and their importance.
What is a DLL File?
A dynamic link library file, or DLL file, is a file type that consists of instructions that are executed by programs whenever they want a certain task performed. The instructions in a DLL file can be shared by multiple programs on your operating system, and they can even access the file simultaneously. For instance, if there is a DLL file that contains the instructions to locate the drive in which Windows is installed on your computer, different programs will be able to call upon it at any time.
Let’s have a look at what a library is in terms of computers. A library refers to a collection of computer code that can be reused, and they are independent of any program, which means that they can be accessed at any time.
How do DLL Files Work?
The function of a DLL file can be best understood with the help of a program, say a word processor. It is a program used to create documents and type text in them, and it isn’t necessary for the word processor to have the code for all the functions it runs. Therefore, if the program has to execute a certain task that it doesn’t possess the code for, it would look for another program within the hard drive that contains the required instructions.
Libraries are developed according to the modular programming framework, in which each program is broken down into smaller modules and sub-programs. So, if you make any changes in a single module, it will affect all the programs that make use of the module to perform a certain task. This makes it easier for programmers to write code that can be easily reused.
Moreover, it is easier for programmers to conduct bug fixing and tweaking the code inside the DLL file when needed. This way, they won’t have to change the code inside different applications and programs, and changing them inside the DLL file would make things easier.
What Causes DLL Files to go Missing?
If DLL files are that important for several programs inside your computer, you must be wondering why they suddenly go missing when you open a certain program. This happens with several Windows operating systems, and you receive an error message when the program is launched. It can also cause problems in booting up your system.
There are several reasons why a DLL file can suddenly go missing, which include:
Malware Infection
If a certain program that was working perfectly stops working all of a sudden and you receive the message that a certain DLL file is missing, chances are that a malware or virus has made its way into your computer, either through an email, external drive, or a download you may have made.
Abnormal Shutdown
If your computer accidentally shuts down, it can corrupt certain DLL files. The shutdown may occur due to a power outage, or it can even be caused due to malware or a corrupt program. When you restart your operating system after the shutdown, chances are that the programs you had open won’t restart and would display an error message.
New Software
Another reason that causes the deletion or corruption of DLL files is the installation or launch of new software that is running for the first time. There may be a piece of code in the new software that edits the DLL file instead of calling it, and this can be the reason why you are encountering an issue in opening up a certain program.
Accidental Deletion
Last but not least, users can also delete the DLL file accidentally if they venture into the drive in which the Windows is installed on their computer. DLL files are present in the System32 folder of the Windows drive, and all the files present inside it are highly sensitive. Therefore, if they accidentally delete a DLL file, they can cause several programs to crash.
How to Resolve DLL File Errors?
The million-dollar question is how you can fix DLL errors on your system, so that your programs work properly and there is no disruption. Some tech savvy people or a Google search would tell you that you can download the specific missing DLL file from the internet and move it to the System32 folder.
To fix the DLL errors on your computer, you can try a few methods, such as:
Restart the Computer
Sometimes, a simple reboot of your Windows operating system can cause the DLL file to work again, especially if there is any malware in your computer.
Check the Recycle Bin
If you have deleted the DLL file by accident, it may be present in the recycle bin, and you can simply restore it to its original location. This way, everything will be alright. Alternatively, if you can’t find the file in Recycle Bin, you can also try a file recovery program.
Run a Virus Scan
If you have licensed anti-virus program installed on your computer, simply run a virus or malware scan. This would fix the issue if its reason is a corrupted or virus-infected file.
Run System Restore
The Windows System Restore feature can be used to restore your operating system to a previous point, and you can use it to see if any changes have been made to the DLL files recently. If so, you can undo them with System Restore.
Reinstall the Particular Program
Sometimes, reinstalling the program that is prompting an error message is the best way to go about it. Try reinstalling the program and running it again to see if the issue persists or is resolved.
Update Drivers
Another method to fix a DLL error is to update the drivers for the program that is causing the DLL error message. You can also run a Windows Update so that all the basic drivers are promptly updated, and make use of the System File Checker to look for any missing DLL files.
Reinstall Windows
The last resort is to reinstall or repair Windows in your computer, but this should only be done when you have multiple programs showing errors and not responding.
So that is all you need to know about DLL files and their importance in nearly all of the programs that you make use of in your Windows computer. They are also essential for starting up the Windows operating system, along with several other files that help you use the computer for daily tasks and work. By now, you must have an idea how crucial DLL files are, so you shouldn’t think about tampering or manipulating them in any way.