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Windows DLL errors - DLL hell
This is the popular name for when you install a program and the computer starts crashing, or some other
piece of software or hardware no longer works.
It usually happens when the new program replaces shared files (often, but not always, DLLs –
Dynamic Link Libraries) with its own versions. The replacements could well be incompatible with the other software, for example by being outdated. Luckily there are things you can do about it.
Windows 98 has a defense mechanism. Before you install new software, go to Start / Run and type SFC.
Press [Enter] and System File Checker will open. Windows XP and 2000 version are known as File Signature Verification Utility found in Program -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Information -> Tools.
Start it off, and as it scans your disk it will build a database of important files as well as checking
them for corruption.
After installing a program, if you experience trouble, run the System File Checker again. In the
settings dialog, ensure that ‘Check for changed files’ is turned on so that SFC compares files with the records in its database.
Changes are reported, giving a shortlist of prime suspects. Note that the list of searched locations includes the Program Files folder, but not sub-folders. You can change this, though files are less often overwritten in a program’s home folder. Shared files in the Windows folders are normally the source of the trouble.
A word of caution about SFC: the one with Win98 SE is supposed to be fixed, but the original Win98
version occasionally zaps Windows when restoring a system file – see Knowledge Base article Q192832.
It’s also prudent to save a copy of your registry before installing software. Go to Start / Run and type
'Scanreg /backup'. In case of subsequent registry trouble, reboot to a DOS command line and execute ‘SCANREG /RESTORE’.
If you’re already caught in DLL hell, try refreshing your Windows installation by reinstalling it over the top of itself (you shouldn’t lose program settings) and then reinstall any programs that still don’t work. If you can identify the problem file, you can program its own version by placing it in the application’s home folder.
Repairing damage with the System File Checker
SFC has two tricks to keep you out of DLL hell…
Before installing software, get System File Checker to scan your disk. This allows it to record a list of system files and check they are in order. If you later run into trouble, use SFC again after clicking the Settings button and turning on ‘Check for changed files’.
You will be alerted to any files recorded in the first scan that are now different and possibly causing other programs to fail. SFC can also extract files from CABs. This saves grappling with Expand, but can cause problems in the first version of Win98.
The recent cause of DLL problems are almost always caused by spywares. You can see this section on how to unload problematic DLL files.
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