[yham47]

Hey guys in the forum, I am a newbie in PC world. I want to know what are dll files and how they are used by OS? Are they the same as exe files on the system folder? I learned that they must be protected but how? Is it safe to scan a PC with those lots of DLL error scanning sites such as Uniblue? Is it true that a lost dll can be downloaded and replaced after getting infected or lost due to virus or faulty use e.g. deleted by accident?
I am sorry to ask this in the forum, it's just that I want to know it from experts view. Anyway, I didn't experience problem regarding dll files yet but I'm asking this for learning purposes. Thanks!

[Elvandil]

Don't use Uniblue. It is junk that will damage your PC. Don't use any registry cleaners.

Dll files are "application extensions". They can contain just about anything, like icons, subroutines used by an exe, or libraries of data. They are extensions of an exe. Some of them are themselves executable (by rundll programs).

They are system files for the most part, so don't pay any attention to "scanners" that claim to know better than Windows about what to do with them.

Viruses can affect dll's just like many other files and many malware apps do their damage with hooked dll's.

And don't believe programs like Uniblue that find "errors" and try to "fix" them.

[hewee]

.dll is for Dynamic Link Library
http://filext.com/file-extension/dll

I have not done scan of the .dll files from these sites. I look at it as all is working ok so don't need a site tilling me that there is a newer version of a .dll file.

I have gone to this site http://www.dll-files.com/ and downloaded .dll files. Most of been when I needed a Runtime .dll and sometimes when you read up on a program it will tell you that your need say msvcrt.dll for the program to run and it you don't have it your need to get it so you can just go here and get the .dll.

My hosts file even blocks the uniblue site.

[yham47]

I was using Eusing Free Registry Cleaner before but ever since I learn about it in this forum I stopped.

Do ComboFix, SDFix, SmitfraudFix or any other tools like this have something to do with replacing or repairing lost and damage exe or dll files (after infection)? If not, how does this tools work?

[Elvandil]

Are you missing dll or exe files?

[yham47]

Nope? As I said in my post at the top I am just asking this for learning purpose, I just wanna know how those tools are working? I have been infected two times but I didn't experience a dll related errors yet...

[LilyNBlue]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

Don't use any registry cleaners. And don't believe programs... that find "errors" and try to "fix" them.

I wonder if this could be the root of a problem I've been having.

I've used WinCleaner in the past. For weeks now, when I reboot my computer, it gets hung up on the first screen (for at least a few minutes) before continuing to the Windows sign-in screen. I can pound on the F8 key (or not) and it will still take a few minutes to move on... often prompting me first to select a boot device (or "press escape to use the default" -- which I always do).

Everything then seems to work properly, but it's unnerving. And I'm constantly in fear of something goin awry.

Could it be that I may have (I don't remember, frankly) allowed WinCleaner to "fix" a registry file??

Just curious.

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by LilyNBlue

I wonder if this could be the root of a problem I've been having.

I've used WinCleaner in the past. For weeks now, when I reboot my computer, it gets hung up on the first screen (for at least a few minutes) before continuing to the Windows sign-in screen. I can pound on the F8 key (or not) and it will still take a few minutes to move on... often prompting me first to select a boot device (or "press escape to use the default" -- which I always do).

Everything then seems to work properly, but it's unnerving. And I'm constantly in fear of something goin awry.

Could it be that I may have (I don't remember, frankly) allowed WinCleaner to "fix" a registry file??

Just curious.

Could very well be. Those things find "errors" of their own definition, and then purport to "fix" them when they were not really errors at all. Most keep a backup of what they remove and the entries can be restored.

[LilyNBlue]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

Most keep a backup of what they remove and the entries can be restored.

Oh, that's right... Thanks for the reminder. I will take a look into that.

[LilyNBlue]

Well, this is a bummer.

Started up WinCleaner and got an expiration notification. It was a 30-day trial version... which expired over a week ago. I cannot now get into the UNDO feature to restore what I allowed to be "fixed". What a racket.

*sigh*

Live and learn.

EDIT:
P.S. In case anyone suggests a system restore, I'll head you off at the pass: I've made so many modifcations and additions in the last 4 weeks that I refuse to do a system restore and lose it all, at this point. Can't afford to. I'd rather live with this annoyance...

[anisbd]

DLL means Dynamic Link Library

It contains a lot of functions,mehods.
Programmer use it for sort of code.