# A program won't load because it's missing a required .dll file

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-program-wont-load-because-its-missing-a-required-dll-file/135509>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 6, 2002, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-program-wont-load-because-its-missing-a-required-dll-file/135509 "2002-11-06T05:00:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-program-wont-load-because-its-missing-a-required-dll-file/135509/1 "2002-11-06T05:00:52Z")

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What should I do? It’s looking for dinput8.dll  
And when I find that file, where should I put it?

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-program-wont-load-because-its-missing-a-required-dll-file/135509/2 "2002-11-06T05:45:35Z")

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What is the program?

Have you thought of reinstalling the program?

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**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-program-wont-load-because-its-missing-a-required-dll-file/135509/3 "2002-11-06T06:35:01Z")

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Try re-installing DirectX 8 - you can download it from Microsoft’s web site.

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**Author:** ![Maryellen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@Maryellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maryellen)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-program-wont-load-because-its-missing-a-required-dll-file/135509/4 "2002-11-06T07:08:59Z")

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Hi , **clayton\_e** , here is a link to the dll file you need. This site always seems to have the mysterious dll files my computer asks for. As for where to put it - my dll files all seem to be in the C:\Windows\System folder. Hope this helps!  
[http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?dinput8](http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?dinput8)