How to Fix Missing DLL Files on Your PC

Encountering a computer error can be a frustrating experience, especially if you are unaware of its cause or the steps you need to follow to troubleshoot it. One of the most common Windows errors that irritate computer users are DLL errors.

So, what are DLL errors anyway and how does one deal with them?

DLL files are a group of files that contain codes that allow them to perform one or more specific functions, such as providing graphical user interface for applications or controlling dialog boxes. A DLL file can be used by multiple applications simultaneously.

This brings us to the next question – Why are DLL errors so common? Well, there are many reasons for a DLL error, but the main reason for their frequent occurrence is attributed to the fact that these files are present in huge numbers on all Windows PCs.

One of the most common types of DLL errors are “missing or not found” DLL errors. Examples of common “missing or not found” DLL error messages are shared below:

• “The file msvcr80.dll is missing”
• “Adobelinguistic.dll file not found”
• “This application failed to start, an important component mfc80u.dll is missing. Reinstalling the application may fix the error.”

As you can guess, the most common “missing or not found DLL errors” occur because of missing DLL files. Listed below are the two most common situations that lead to the removal of a DLL file and the steps you need to perform and repair the missing DLL error.

Deletion of a DLL file by mistake

Removal of a DLL file by mistake is also a common occurrence. This generally occurs when a user intends to delete a file that has a name similar to a DLL file.

If you believe you have mistakenly removed the DLL file, then restore the DLL file from the Recycle Bin. This should correct the missing DLL error. If you have already emptied the contents of the Recycle Bin, then you may use a reliable third-party recovery tool to recover the lost DLL file.

Malware Infection

Malware programs, such as virus, trojans and rootkits have the potential to affect your computer’s performance in many ways. Malicious programs are notorious for modifying or deleting important files like DLL files.

If you suspect your PC is infected, first run a malware scan using a reputed antivirus and antispyware tool to delete the malware and restore your PC’s integrity. Next, if the missing DLL file is a non-Windows file, download a new copy of the DLL file from a reliable DLL online directory. There are many free DLL directories available on the Internet that offer free downloads of DLL files. However, before you select a website always confirm that the website is safe and genuine. The reason being – there are many dubious websites that are known to push rogue or malicious files in disguise of genuine DLL files. Downloading a file from such websites may cause more harm to your PC.

In case the missing DLL file is a Windows file, then you simply need to extract a copy of the DLL file from your original Windows installation CD and restore it in the right folder.

It is also recommended that you run a registry scan to ensure that the DLL error is not caused due to an incorrect DLL entry in the registry.