How to Remove a Virus on a DLL File
By Ray Padgett
A dynamic link library file (DLL for short) is a Windows operating system file that controls data used by more than one application. This can include everything from account information to the scripts that allow applications to open. If a virus has infected a DLL file, the damage could span several applications or all of them. You need to remove this virus before it infects other DLL files or crashes your computer completely.
Step 1
Run Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool. To do so, open your computer's Start menu and click on the dialogue titled "Run." Type "MRT" when the Run dialogue opens and hit the "Enter" key. This application comes pre-installed on Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003. If the repair tool is missing or broken for whatever reason, download a new copy from the link in Resources.
Step 2
Click on the "Next" button.
Step 3
Select the option labeled "Full Scan." While this takes a bit longer than the "Quick Scan" default, it offers a better chance of removing a DLL virus.
Step 4
Click on the "Next" button. Wait for the tool to finish scanning your DLL files to find the virus.
Step 5
Follow the prompts that appear to remove the virus on the DLL file.
Step 6
Click on the button labeled "Finish."
Step 7
Restart your PC.
References
Tips
- If the DLL virus is preventing your computer from starting properly, boot the machine in Safe Mode. To do this, press the F8 key repeatedly as it starts up.
Writer Bio
Based in New York City, Ray Padgett has been writing about music and technology since his 2009 graduation from Dartmouth College. He has a degree in religion, with a minor in English. He has been published in SPIN.com and in "The Celebrity Café," "The Noise" and an upcoming Bob Dylan anthology.