Using Windows Search to Find Local .DLL Backups
DLL files may sometimes be moved, copied, or renamed by other applications, leading to errors when a program cannot locate the required file. To quickly determine if the missing DLL file is still on your computer, you can use the built-in Windows Search feature. This guide will show you how to effectively search your system to locate backup or renamed versions of DLL files that might resolve your issue without needing to download new ones.
-
Select a drive to search
Search a drive such as c:\, d:\, etc...
-
Search the filename
Do not include the .dll extension. This will allow you to find possible backup copies on your computer such as filename.dl_, filename.dl~, filename(1).dll.
-
Check the results
Before replacing an existing .dll make a copy in case it needs to be restored.
- If you find the .dll file make a copy and re-install the .dll file.
- If you find filename(1).dll copy and rename to filename.dll.
- If you find filename.dl~ copy and rename to filename.dll.
- If you find filename.dll* copy and rename to filename.dll.
- If you find filename.dl_, this is a compressed backup of the .dll file. Use software such as 7zip to extract the file.
-
Install the .dll file
If you find the .dll file make a copy and re-install the .dll file.
- Note: There is a chance you may find a binary copy of a .dll file from the SXS folder. Binary .dll files are not suitable for install.
