Windows File Type Basics:  What You Should Know

Various types of files are used on a computer; some more common and important than others. In this article, we will discuss three important file types used in Windows, issues associated with these file types, and their solutions.

.DLL File Extension –Overview

The term DLL is an acronym for Dynamic Link Library. Each .DLL file, such as spoolsv.dll file, provides specific functionality to the Windows operating system and installed applications. A .DLL file can be called on at the same time by multiple applications if they require the functionality that the .DLL file provides. .DLL files are dynamic in nature. This means that they are loaded onto the memory space of the application that calls on them.

Example of Common .DLL Errors and Their Solutions

.DLL errors can occur when you start Windows, install or run a particular application. Examples of common DLL error messages are:

Steps to Fix .DLL Errors

If you receive a DLL error message, perform the following steps to resolve the issue:

Reinstall the application that is generating the .DLL error

Uninstall and reinstall the application that seems to be generating the .DLL error. Doing this may restore the corrupt or missing files and resolve the issue. In case the error persists, move to step 2.

Download the missing .DLL file from the Internet

If the .DLL error is occurring because the .DLL file listed in the error message is missing then you may replace the missing DLL by downloading a new copy of the .DLL file from a reliable online .DLL directory. If the .DLL file is already present, move to the next step.

Perform a registry scan

Issues in the registry are common causes of application errors, such as DLL errors. To fix the issue, run a registry scan using a reliable Windows registry maintenance utility.

.EXE file extension – Overview

.EXE files are Windows executable files and are run using the Windows operating system itself. These files are used extensively in Windows to install the application developed in a programming language in a single file.

.EXE errors

Just like .DLL errors, .EXE errors, too, may occur any time. A large number of .EXE errors occur due to malware infection. Malware programs often corrupt EXE files by altering their content or their file association information in the registry. If you find yourself besieged by random .EXE errors, run a malware scan on your entire computer, using a robust antimalware tool.

.TMP file extension – Overview

.TMP files are temporary files that are created by many applications. These files are used to recover data in case of a system or software crash.

.TMP file issues 

At times, .TMP files may stay on your hard drive even after they have long served their purpose. If this is the case, then you may use the built-in Disk Cleanup utility to remove .TMP files to free up disk space.

Credit: Digital Enterprises