How to quickly solve missing DLL file error

I suppose every once in a while we get to see some .dll errors dialogue boxes in Windows. Usually the info says to reinstall the application and see if that resolves your problem with missing .dll file, but here is what you can do if that doesn’t help (because in most cases it doesn’t). There are 3 things you can do to quickly solve missing DLL file error in Windows.


If you updated to Windows 10 and didn’t install Windows Media Player, then you most probably will see the error dialog box that says you are missing the WMVCORE.DLL for some application that you try to open (Adobe Premier, Camtasia Studio…). Here is what I did to quickly solve missing DLL file error.

1. Open Google.com and search for your missing DLL file

Choose a website that offers you to download the file directly or in .zip archive.

2. Unzip and copy the downloaded file to the directory of the program that is requesting the file

This is by default C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) depending on the given application. However, this wasn’t enough for me to solve missing DLL file error.

3. Copy the downloaded file to your system directory

In case the previous step didn’t have any effect, like in my case, then you should copy the downloaded DLL file into Windows system directory which by default is C:\Windows\System (for Windows 95/98/Me) or C:\WINNT\System32 (for Windows NT/2000) or C:\Windows\System32 (for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10). Make a backup copy of the original file before you overwrite it (if it exists in the given location) and then reboot your computer.

4. Final step if previous failed

In case the previous 3 steps didn’t solve your missing DLL file error, then it’s time for some serious under-the-hood work.
a) Open Command Prompt: Start⇒Run⇒CMD (run as administrator!)
b) Type the following:

regsvr32 "filename".dll

c) and press Enter key.
You should see a confirmation message and that should hopefully be the end of your missing DLL file error.

missing-dll-files

Please share in the comments your experiences about this topic if you have discovered another way of solving this missing DLL file error, or maybe discovered additional steps.

By janoshke

Web developer and IT consultant. Freelancer with full respect for OpenCart and WordPress. Gamer, (ex)drummer and parent.

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