Category: Windows
by Dennis Faas, infopackets editor
http://www.infopackets.com
Recall:
Yesterday,
Don W. sent in a question which asked why he kept getting a Window every
time Windows booted up saying that the file "DDRAW.DLL" could not be found.
My suggestion to Don was to search for the .DLL on his system and try to
locate the program folder to determine where the .DLL came from, uninstall
the program, and then reinstall it in hopes of clearing up the error message
he was receiving.
Unfortunately, I forgot that some Windows operating
systems will not display a .DLL file by default. Furthermore -- as
Darren B. points out, the DDRAW.DLL file is actually a Direct-X component:
" I use Google when I have a problem with a .DLL on a hard drive;
google will more often then not tell you exactly what you need to know
about the file. For instance, a quick search on Google revealed that
DDRAW.DLL is a part of Microsoft DirectDraw. "
OK -- so how do you reinstall a DirectDraw file?
DirectDraw and
Direct3D are two key components of Direct-X. Direct-X is a Microsoft
Windows add-on that is commonly required for 3D gaming. In all
likelihood, downloading Direct-X and reinstalling it should solve Don's
problem.
Direct-X can be downloaded from Microsoft's web site.
Had Don's dilemma not been a core Windows component .DLL file, my suggestion
should work without any hitches for just about any installed program that
all-the-sudden generates strange error messages and needs to be reinstalled.
