How to Fix a DLL Issue Caused by a Hardware Problem GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Windows

How to Troubleshoot and Fix a DLL Issue Caused by a Hardware Problem

By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 15, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide Errors involving DLL files are most often caused by an issue in the software world—the file has been deleted, a virus has infected the file, etc. Sometimes, however, the underlying cause of a DLL error is hardware related. If you suspect that this might be the case with your DLL issue, the cause of your problem just got a bit more difficult to find and probably more expensive to solve. These steps should only be followed after troubleshooting the DLL error as a software issue, a more likely scenario. You can find a troubleshooting guide for your specific DLL error by searching for that error from the search bar on this page. Alexander Köpke / EyeEm / Getty Images Time Required: Troubleshooting a DLL error with a hardware root cause could take as long as several hours

How to Fix a DLL Issue Caused by an Unknown Hardware Problem

Did you just install or uninstall a piece of hardware? If so, there's a good chance that the DLL error you're seeing is related to this hardware change. Depending on what hardware changes you made, here are some suggested solutions: Undo the hardware installation or uninstallation. Replace the hardware component with one that you know works correctly. Update the hardware device's firmware. Make sure the hardware is on the Hardware Compatibility List. Check with the manufacturer for support information. Test your computer's memory. One very common result of a failing memory module is the sudden appearance of one or more DLL errors. Replace the memory in your PC if your tests show any problem whatsoever. Test your hard drive. Any DLL file located on a failing part of a hard drive will either become corrupted or completely disappear, causing DLL errors among other problems. Replace the hard drive if your tests show a physical problem with the drive. Clear the CMOS. Clearing the BIOS memory on your motherboard will return the BIOS settings to their default levels. A misconfigured BIOS could cause problems with your hardware, causing a DLL error. If clearing the CMOS does fix the DLL error, make sure any changes you make in BIOS are completed one at a time so if the error returns, you'll know which change caused the problem. Update your BIOS. In some cases, and outdated BIOS could cause a hardware incompatibility that might generate a DLL error like the one you're seeing. Start your computer with essential hardware only. The purpose here is to remove as much hardware as possible while maintaining your ability to test for the DLL error. If you no longer have the DLL error with only essential hardware installed, proceed to Step 7. If you're still receiving the DLL error, proceed to Step 8. In general, essential hardware, in this case, would be the motherboard, CPU, RAM, video card, primary hard drive, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Don't skip this step. Learning what hardware is or isn't causing the DLL error will save you time and money when replacing hardware. Reinstall each piece of hardware that you removed in Step 6, one piece at a time, testing after each installation. Since you're no longer seeing the DLL error with only the essential hardware installed, one of the hardware components you removed is causing the DLL problem. By installing each device back into your PC and testing each time, you'll eventually find the hardware that's at the source of the DLL problem. Replace the failed hardware once you've identified it. The above hardware installation videos should come in handy as you're reinstalling your hardware. Replace each piece of essential hardware in your computer with an identical or equivalent spare piece of hardware (that you know is working), one component at a time, to determine which piece of hardware is causing the DLL error. Test for the DLL error after each hardware replacement to determine which component is faulty. Finally, if all else fails, you'll need to seek professional help from a computer repair service or from your computer manufacturer's technical support. Unfortunately, if you don't have working spare parts to swap in and out, you're left not knowing which piece of your essential PC hardware is faulty and causing the DLL error. In these cases, you have little option than to rely on the help of individuals or companies that have these resources.

Need More Help

If you're not interested in fixing this hardware-caused DLL problem yourself, see How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? for a full list of your support options, plus help with everything along the way like figuring out repair costs, getting your files off, choosing a repair service, and a whole lot more. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Fix Problems that Occur During the POST How to Fix Secur32.dll Not Found or Missing Errors How to Fix a Computer That Turns On and Then Off How to Fix Msvcr110.dll Is Missing or Not Found Errors How to Fix a Computer That Turns on but Displays Nothing How to Fix Gdi32.dll Is Missing or Not Found Errors How to Fix Kernel32.dll Errors in Windows How to Fix Msvcr70.dll is Missing or Not Found Errors How to Fix Glut32.dll Not Found or Missing Errors How to Fix Mfc80u.dll Not Found or Missing Errors How to Fix Openal32.dll Is Missing or Not Found Errors How to Fix Zlib1.dll Is Missing or Not Found Errors How to Fix Kernel.dll Errors How to Fix Netapi32.dll Not Found or Missing Errors How to Fix Zlib.dll Is Missing or Not Found Errors How to Fix Msvbvm60.dll Not Found or Missing Errors Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies