Download and Install .dll Files Manually
1. Open your Web browser and navigate to a site where you can download numerous common .dll files for free. There are several of these sites, and you can find links to two of them in the Resources section below.
2. Search within the .dll sites for the specific .dll file or files you want to change. Not all files will be listed, and .dll files that affect only a few pieces of software tend to be harder to find than those that affect Windows.
3. Download the .dll files you want to change. Note where on your computer the files are being downloaded to.
4. Double-click the 'My Computer' icon and navigate to the system folder for your version of Windows. In Windows XP and Vista for 32-bit computers, the system folder is 'C:\Windows\System32.' In Windows XP and Vista for 64-bit computers, it's 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64.' In Windows NT and 2000, it's 'C:\WINNT\System32.' Finally, in Windows 95, 98 and ME, it's 'C:\Windows\System.'
5. Click and drag the .dll files you downloaded from their download location to the system folder. Windows may prompt you about each file, asking you if you would like to replace the original file with the new one. Click 'Yes' or 'Yes to all.'
6. Restart Windows. The new .dll files are registered into the Windows file system automatically on startup, and begin working immediately after that.
Reverting .dll Files With System Restore
7. Click the 'Start' button in Windows and expand the 'All Programs' folder. Then expand the 'Accessories' folder, and then the 'System Tools' folder. Click 'System Restore.'
8. Click 'Restore my computer to an earlier time,' then click the 'Next' button.
9. Click a restore point on the calendar that appears. Restore points are represented by bold dates. If you recently began experiencing problems or seeing error messages relating to .dll files, choose a restore point from just before you started noticing the problems. Whatever date you choose, Windows will revert the version and status of all of your computer's .dll files to the way they were on that date. After you click a restore point, click the 'Next' button.
10. Review the chosen restore point and settings on the confirmation screen, then click the 'Next' or 'Finish' button. Windows will automatically restore itself and then restart.
11. Click the 'OK' button on the confirmation screen that appears after your computer boots up again. This completes the system restore process.
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