what are .dll files and how can they become corrupted?

[Dave F]

I've been having problems opening Access over the past day and I think I've
isolated the problem to various dll files used by Access not being tied to
the correct registry.

What are dll files? Any reference materials on them?

(And yes, I know modifying the registry is potentially dangerous, and yes
the computer's been backed up.)

Thanks.

Dave

 

[Niniel]

Those are Dynamic Link Libraries, which are essentially bits of programming
that are stored outside of the executable file and called upon when needed.
I'm not sure that you should or even can fix your installation by messing
around in the registry. In my opinion, it would be better to copy the right
DLLs over the wrong ones. [That's probably what happened anyway - you
installed something, and newer or older versions of DLLs were copied over
your existing, correct ones.]
I would try the installer's "Repair" function, or uninstall and then
reinstall the program.

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

I'm puzzled as to why you think there's a problem with the dll files if you
don't even know what dll files are!

Have you tried a repair of Access? What about a reinstall?

 

[David F Cox]

there is an operating system utility called system file checker SFC.EXE
which checks through all of the operating system files to see if they have
been corrupted, and if so reinstalls them. Read the help on this subject.

If you really do have a registry problem then XPPro has the ability to undo
recent changes by returning to a sysem restore point, if you have one saved.
Read the help on this too.

If your problem lies in these areas you will probably be better asking in
operating system newsgroups before embarking on any action.