Your Computer Software Is Made Of Dll Files
Many of the files on your computer end with “.dll“. This means that they are dynamic link library files, a special type of computer file. Dll files contain code, but also other information that is used by your computer when you run a program. They can be run alone, but are usually part of a program.
As a part of a program, they give the developers of the program a bit of flexibility. A dll file can be called into action when it is needed instead of sitting in memory taking up space and slowing your computer. It can also be shared between different programs using the same functions, saving programming time and effort.
Keeping Track with the Registry
As a result, there are a LOT of dll files on your computer. Most of them have very specific functions and are vital to the successful running of your programs. Since there are so many, Windows needed a way to keep track of them all. The method used by Windows is a database called the registry. This database stores information about each program installed on your computer and within the entries for each program is data about each of the files associated with the program. Which is all well and good, until the registry has a mistake or problem.
Errors in the Registry
Registry problems are caused by a variety of things, some of them no fault of the user at all. A common cause of a registry problem is when your computer is shut down improperly. If there is a program running in the background, especially if it’s in the process of closing, and your system is turned off without allowing it to finish closing, it can result in errors to the registry entry for the program.
This can also happen if you stop a process for a program instead of shutting it down using the options available in the program itself. Some other causes of registry errors are badly written programs, software upgrades that replace files without checking, files or folders moved on your hard drive, and even small power surges.
Some Errors Need More Help Than Others
The good news about registry problems is that most of them are fixed by Windows automatically. There is enough redundancy in the registry that Windows can work around many errors, and the next time the program writes to the registry it might fix the problem. Even if the program can’t fix the error, the program will still be able to start as long as the redundancy is intact.
However, if more errors happen to the same program, or a program doesn’t have enough redundancy built into its registry entries, you may get an error when you attempt to run the program. Often that error will stop you from being able to run your software.
Clean Your Registry to Solve DLL Errors
The solution is to clean up the problems in the registry. There are two ways to do this. The first is to identify the program having the problems and reinstall it. While this will often fix the errors, it is sometimes hard to do and disruptive. You may have to uninstall the program before you reinstall it, and there is always the slight chance you will lose any information or settings saved in the program.
A better way is to find a registry cleaner and have it fix the problems for you. The registry cleaner will deal with the issues even if you don’t know which program is breaking. It can also solve problems you didn’t know you had, speeding up your software and your system. Even if you aren’t having dll problems, you should regularly clean your registry with a registry cleaner as part of basic PC maintenance.