Tips To Understanding DLL Error Messages

September 27th, 2009 Posted by Edy
in Category Computer Spot, Computer Tips |

Despite a lot of complaints from computer users about making error messages more user-friendly, very little has been done by software manufacturers on this front.

While computer applications have become friendlier, they have not improved on re-working their error messages for the benefit of users. This results in confusion and fear of trying to resolve the error.

Thankfully, the internet steps in where software manufacturers leave us stranded. There is enough information available on the internet that helps us understand the error messages we are encountering.

This article is an attempt to help computer users in understanding one such category of common errors known as DLL errors.

DLL errors are caused due to certain issues that arise in Dynamic Link Library or DLL files. Since these files are indispensible to the operating system and various applications in our computers, any issue can immediately pose serious threats to the normal functioning of any computer.

These errors can take place due to several reasons, some of which could be very simple to understand while some of them are a little complicated in their appearance.

However, any kind of DLL error can be solved once the user understands the error message and takes certain easy steps to resolve it.

Understanding DLL error messages

Some errors are quite informative and you should have no issues in understanding such error messages. An example of such an error message is:

“Cannot start [APPLICATION_NAME]. A required component is missing: mfc80.dll. Please install [APPLICATION_NAME] again.”

This file belongs to MS Visual Studio and may get deleted or corrupted due to a registry problem, hardware issues or virus attack.

Other errors may simply inform us that a particular file such as xprt5.dll was not found. In this case, you do not have any idea what the xprt5.dll application error is all about.

All you know is that some file has gone missing. After doing some research you will find that this file belongs to AOL messenger and as a result of this error the application has failed to start.

Yet, another category of DLL errors may point towards some other error than DLL and this may be a little confusing. For example, in the case of the shtml.dll file error you may receive an HTTP 404 error.

So what is the common method to understand a DLL error message? The recommended way is to use the assistance of the Internet and visit trusted websites for DLL error information.

These Web sites provide systematic information about every DLL error including various error messages you can receive in case of a problem.

They illustrate root causes of these errors and provide step by step information on troubleshooting these particular types of errors.

Usually the resolution steps include:

Reinstalling the application concerned.
Downloading the missing or corrupt file from a verified source and reinstating it in its location.
Cleaning your system of malware.
Updating the obsolete DLL file or drivers.
Uninstalling an application that generated the DLL error soon after being installed.
Ensuring the application is uninstalled completely by sweeping your Windows registry with a reliable registry cleaner tool.