In most cases, when you get a message that a dll file is missing it is because a program has been installed or uninstalled incorrectly.

Often you can tell what program it is by looking carefully at the name of the file. MSWKS, for example, refers to Microsoft Works.

But you may have to use your imagination -- or your memory to figure it out.

In any case, if the dll is associated with a program you are using and want to go on using, just reinstall the program. That should restore the dll file.

If it is a program that you have uninstalled the message is appearing because a reference in a Windows file is trying to get the computer to start the now-missing program. You have to look for that reference and get rid of it.

If you have Windows 95 look in the StartUp menu (C:\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\StartUp) for the shortcut to the program associated with the missing dll file. If there is such a shortcut, delete it.

If you have Windows 98 or higher, look in the System Configuration Utility's StartUp section for the reference to the program. Go to Run, Start. Type msconfig in the Open box, then enter. In the Configuration Utility, click on the Startup tab and look in the list for the reference to the program. If there is one, click in the box next to the reference to remove the checkmark in there.

You may have to look for a reference in another Windows file, the win.ini file.

Go to Start, then choose Run. When Run comes up, type "sysedit" (without the quotes) into the box to the right of Open, and press the enter key. That will bring up Windows' ini files. Go to the win.ini file. Look in the Load and Run lines and see if there is a reference to the missing file in three. If there is, delete the entry. Save and close win.ini and exit. Next time you boot up you should not get the message.

If the message persists, you will have to look for a reference to the file in the Registry. Again, go to Start/Run Type "regedit" without the quotes in the Open box. When the Registry Editor opens use the Find function under the Edit Menu to find the reference. You do so by typing in the exact name of the missing file into the Find box. When you find a reference, right click on it, then choose Delete from the pop-up menu. Repeat the Find and Delete effort until you get a message that no more instances of the file can be found.