220-1102 DLL load failed Practice Question
After installing a new software application on a Windows 10 computer, a user receives a 'DLL load failed' error when launching the program. The technician uses Process Monitor and finds that the application is trying to load a DLL from a path that does not exist. Which solution is most likely to resolve the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse a missing DLL (file not found) with an unregistered DLL (registration issue), leading them to incorrectly choose regsvr32 instead of recognizing the need for a complete reinstall.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reinstall the application
The 'DLL load failed' error indicates that the application's installation is incomplete or corrupted, specifically missing a required DLL file or having an incorrect path reference. Reinstalling the application ensures that all necessary DLLs are properly placed in the expected directories, resolving the missing path issue identified by Process Monitor.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Reinstall the application
Why this is correct
Reinstalling the application is the correct fix because application installers deploy the complete set of runtime components, including the specific DLL file and its dependencies, to the expected directories on the system. The Windows loader searches for the DLL in the application folder, system directories, and PATH; a reinstall ensures the file is present in the correct location and also restores any required registry entries. Simply copying a single DLL from another source can fail because the file may be the wrong version or rely on other missing files, whereas the installer resolves all such dependencies. Therefore, a full reinstall directly eliminates the missing DLL condition that triggers the load error.
- ✗
Register the DLL using regsvr32
Why it's wrong here
regsvr32 is a command-line utility that registers a COM DLL by calling its DllRegisterServer function and writing registry keys that point to the binary. If the DLL file itself is absent from the disk, regsvr32 cannot load it and will immediately fail with an error such as 'The module could not be found' or 'DllRegisterServer was not found.' Registration requires an existing, loadable DLL; it does not copy any files or restore missing components. Hence, using regsvr32 is ineffective when the underlying DLL is missing, because there is no file to register.
- ✗
Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
Why it's wrong here
System File Checker (sfc /scannow) is designed to verify and repair protected Windows system files by comparing them against the cached copies in the WinSxS component store. It only targets operating system binaries such as ntdll.dll or kernel32.dll, and it does not scan or restore third-party application files, including DLLs installed by a software vendor. Since the missing DLL was almost certainly shipped with the application rather than as part of Windows, SFC has no record of it and will not replace it. Consequently, running SFC would not address the application-specific missing DLL error.
- ✗
Perform a clean boot to eliminate startup conflicts
Why it's wrong here
Performing a clean boot disables third-party startup programs and non-Microsoft services, creating a minimal system environment to help identify software conflicts that cause crashes or slowdowns. This troubleshooting technique does not modify files on the disk, nor does it restore or reinstall any application components, so the missing DLL remains absent after a clean boot. It is a diagnostic method for detecting conflicting drivers or startup background processes, not a repair mechanism for missing files. Therefore, a clean boot cannot load the missing DLL and will not resolve the load error.
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Troubleshoot: Application Crashes and Hangs
Key term
Windows
Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft that manages computer hardware and software, providing a graphical user interface for users to interact with their devices.
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1102 exam.