In some cases, shell.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.

Shell.dll Errors

There are several different ways that shell.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common ways that you might see shell.dll errors:

Shell.dll Not FoundThis application failed to start because shell.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.Cannot find [PATH]\shell.dllThe file shell.dll is missing.Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: shell.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again.

Shell.dll error messages might appear while using or installing certain programs, when Windows starts or shuts down, or maybe even during a Windows installation. The context of the shell.dll error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem.

How to Fix Shell.dll Errors

Need More Help?

If you’re not interested in fixing this problem yourself, see How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? for a full list of your support options, plus help with everything along the way like figuring out repair costs, getting your files off, choosing a repair service, and a whole lot more. If you suspect that you’ve accidentally deleted shell.dll but you’ve already emptied the Recycle Bin, you may be able to recover shell.dll with a free file recovery program. The shell.dll file may or may not be related to video cards—this was just an example. The key here is to pay very close attention to the context of the error and troubleshoot accordingly. It’s important to update Windows even if shell.dll isn’t an update provided by Windows Update. There might be one or more updates not yet installed that are needed for shell.dll to function properly. If the hardware fails any of your tests, replace the memory or replace the hard drive as soon as possible.