Fixing DLL Errors with DISM, SFC, and Similar Methods

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DLL (Dynamic Link Library) files contain shared code that multiple programs use at once. When one goes missing or gets corrupted, you get errors like “msvcr110.dll is missing” or random crashes. Windows ships two built-in repair tools — DISM and SFC — that fix most DLL problems without reinstalling anything. Here’s how to use them.

What the tools do

  • DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) services and repairs the Windows image itself — the component store that SFC pulls clean files from. If the store is corrupted, SFC can’t fix anything, which is why DISM runs first.
  • SFC (System File Checker) scans protected system files and replaces corrupted ones with known-good copies from the component store.

Both must run from an elevated Command Prompt — see 10 ways to run Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 1: Run DISM

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt.

  2. Run:

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

  3. Let it scan and repair — it can sit at certain percentages for several minutes; that’s normal.

  4. Restart your computer when it completes.

Step 2: Run SFC

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt again.

  2. Run:

    sfc /scannow

  3. SFC scans all protected system files and automatically replaces corrupted ones.

  4. Restart to apply the repairs.

If SFC reports “found corrupt files and successfully repaired them,” re-run it once more — a clean second pass confirms the fix.

If DLL errors persist

  • Windows Update — outdated system files and drivers contribute to DLL errors; install all pending updates.
  • Reinstall the affected program — if one specific app triggers the error, uninstall and reinstall it to restore its bundled DLLs. For Visual C++ runtime errors (msvcr*.dll, vcruntime*.dll), reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables.
  • System Restore — if errors appeared recently, roll back to a restore point from before they started.

Avoid downloading individual DLL files from random websites — they’re a common malware vector and rarely match the version your software needs.

Summary

Run DISM first, then SFC, then restart — that sequence resolves the vast majority of DLL errors. If you’re cleaning up your system anyway, see How to debloat Windows to optimize your PC for gaming for the full tune-up.