"Recently, every time I open a program, a system error message says MSVCR71.dll is missing. How can I recover the deleted DLL files?" As a kind of system file, DLL files are essential on Windows. They work with different applications to share files and resources efficiently. If some DLL files are accidentally deleted or missing, you cannot access these applications or even your operating system. Here you can learn seven ways to resolve this problem.

Part 1: What Are DLL Files and Why Are They Missing

What are DLL files? It stands for Dynamic Link Library. It is Microsoft's implementation of the shared library concept on Windows. These libraries have a file extension: .dll. They allow programs to run different features without writing the whole program from scratch every time. In short, DLL files are significant and indispensable on the Windows operating system.

The main reasons why your DLL files are missing include:

1. You accidentally deleted DLL files.

2. The DLL files for one program are overwritten by another program.

3. Uninstalling a program may lead to missing DLL files.

4. Malware or virus.

5. Corrupted Windows File System or hard disk.

6. Registry issues.

Part 2: How to Recover Deleted DLL Files

Way 1: Restart PC

While it is simple, restarting your PC can sometimes fix missing DLL files on Windows 11/10. Restarting your machine refreshes the File System and closes all programs in the background. The missing DLL files may be back. All you need to do is click the Start menu, choose the Power button, and hit Restart. Then, open the program to check if the error disappears.

Way 2: Recover from the Recycle Bin

If you delete a DLL file by mistake, don't worry. You can find the missing DLL file in your Recycle Bin and restore it to the original folder quickly. Here are the steps to recover your DLL file:

Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin application from your desktop or File Explorer.

Step 2. Find the missing DLL file.

Step 3. Right-click on it and choose Restore from the context menu.

Step 4. Then, re-open the program and you won't see the error message.

Way 3: Restore DLL Files from File History

If you cannot find the missing DLL files in the Recycle Bin, File History is another available feature. The prerequisite is that you have turned on File History before your DLL files are missing or deleted.

Step 1. Locate the program folder in a File Explorer.

Step 2. Right-click on the folder and choose Properties.

Step 3. Go to the Previous Versions tab, choose a version that includes the missing DLL files, and click Open in File History.

Step 4. Select all missing DLL files and click the Restore button.

Way 4: Reinstall Applications

Another way to fix missing DLL files on Windows 11/10 is to reinstall the application. Right-click on the Start menu and choose Settings. Go to the Apps tab, select the app, and uninstall it. Next, download and install the app from the Microsoft Store or a trusted place.

Way 5: Use System File Checker

The built-in System File Checker on Windows is able to scan missing or corrupted system files and try to repair them. Therefore, it can fix missing DLL files on your PC. Here is how to use it:

Step 1. Press Win and S to open the search bar and type cmd.

Step 2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 3. Type sfc /scannow and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

Step 4. Wait for it to scan your system files.

Step 5. Once the process finishes, restart your PC and check if the error is resolved.

Way 6: Try DISM Tool

Another resolution is DISM Tool, or Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool. It is able to repair the underlying Windows image. In other words, this pre-installed tool can find and recover missing DLL files on Windows.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. Perform the command below:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 3. When it is done, restart your computer.

Part 3: Ultimate Way to Recover Deleted DLL Files

If you have tried the ways above but cannot find the missing DLL files, Apeaksoft Data Recovery is worth using. It deeply scans your hard drives and looks for missing files. The built-in advanced technology helps you simplify the workflow of DLL recovery.

How to Recover Deleted DLL Files

Step 1. Scan your Recycle Bin
Launch the best DLL recovery program after you install it on your computer. It is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista and Mac OS X 10.7 or above.

Step 2. Find missing DLL files
Go to Hard Drive Recovery and choose the location where the missing DLL files are. Click the Start Scan button to begin finding the missing DLL files. When it is done, you can preview them by type or path. You can also recover deleted videos, photos, and other files.

Step 3. Recover DLL files
Select all missing DLL files and click the Recover button. Then, set an output folder and confirm the data recovery. Move the DLL files to the original folder and check if your program works again.

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