In some cases, winsock.dll errors could indicate a registry problem, a virus or malware issue, or even a hardware failure.
Winsock.dll Errors
There are several different ways that winsock.dll errors can show up on your computer. Here are some of the more common ways that you might see winsock.dll errors:
Winsock.dll Not FoundThis application failed to start because winsock.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.Cannot find [PATH]\winsock.dllThe file winsock.dll is missing.Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: winsock.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again.
The winsock.dll file is involved in allowing Windows software to access the network, so it’s common to see winsock DLL errors appear while using or installing certain networking programs. You might also see winsock.dll errors when Windows starts or shuts down, or maybe even during a Windows installation. These DLL errors are most likely only seen when using really old applications or early versions of Windows since winsock.dll is a 16-bit DLL file. The context of the winsock.dll error is an important piece of information that will be helpful while solving the problem.
How to Fix Winsock.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. This is especially true if the program is really old and is trying to access a nonexistent DLL file. Newer versions of the program might use an updated Winsock DLL file, and therefore downloading and installing a fresh copy should eliminate the winsock.dll error. If the hardware fails any of your tests, replace the memory or replace the hard drive as soon as possible. We rarely recommend the use of registry cleaners. We’ve included the option here as a “last resort” attempt before the destructive step coming up next.
