What are DLL errors?

DLL errors are frustrating and hard to fix – many users find themselves in the middle of DLL hell. But what exactly are DLL errors?

DLL stands for dynamic link library. It allows the sharing of code and other resources between programs to do particular tasks. The DLL is a very important part of the Windows concept. It is similar to the library routines which are part of such programming languages C and C++.

The advantage of the DLL is that because its files do not get loaded into the RAM (random access memory), crucial memory is saved. When DLL files are needed, they are loaded and then used. For example, if you wanted to print something in a word processing application, the printer DLL file is not loaded until it is needed. Most DLL files carry a .dll extension. However, there are exceptions, such as Kernel.exe, User.exe and Gdi.exe.

DLL errors can occur when a DLL file is:

• Accidentally overwritten, which sometimes happens when software is installed and the latest DLL file is overwritten with an older version (this is called DLL stomping)
• Corrupted by a bad hard disk drive or program
• Uninstalled

Missing DLLs and conflicts between DLL versions can cause major problems. When these occur your screen is bombarded with Windows error messages that are incomprehensible for non-computer experts. For it example, it might state: “Explorer caused an invalid page fault in module Kernel32.dll” or “The file d3dx9_25.dll was not found.” Not only does the user receive a stream of error messages, but the original task requiring the DLL is not completed. As a result, the overall functionality and usefulness of the PC reduced. Repairing DLL errors is essential for a healthy computer.