Windows utilities and system files

A Windows system is made up of many interacting components, and a range of utilities exists to inspect, repair and fine-tune them. Several of these components are file types that the operating system depends on. A DLL, or dynamic-link library, holds code and data that many programs can share rather than each carrying its own copy; missing or mismatched DLLs are a common source of errors. Other supporting files, such as OCX and VXD files, provide reusable controls and, on older systems, low-level access to hardware.

Drivers are a particularly important class of file. A driver is the software that lets Windows communicate with a specific piece of hardware, and locating the correct driver for a device is a frequent maintenance task. Tools that identify hardware and find matching drivers therefore feature prominently among Windows utilities, alongside those that manage start-up. The built-in msconfig tool, for example, controls which programs and services launch when the system boots, which is useful for speeding up start-up and isolating problems.

When a system will not start normally, a boot disk provides an alternative way in. Created on removable media, it loads a minimal environment from which the disk can be examined and repaired. Other tools work with the Windows registry, the central database of configuration settings, allowing it to be backed up, cleaned or edited. Together with general tweaking utilities, these tools cover the practical needs of maintaining Windows, and many are available as freeware spanning versions from Windows 98 and Windows 2000 to Windows XP.

Frequently asked questions

What is a DLL file?

A dynamic-link library holds code and data shared by several programs, so each does not need its own copy. Missing or wrong-version DLLs are a common cause of program errors.

What does msconfig do?

It is a built-in Windows tool for controlling which programs and services start automatically at boot, useful for speeding up start-up and diagnosing problems.

What is a boot disk for?

It is removable media that loads a minimal environment when Windows will not start normally, allowing the disk to be inspected and repaired from outside the broken system.