One of the biggest problems in the Windows family of operating systems is the many DLL files that the entire system depends on. If you check both the Windows folder and system32 folder, you will see just how many DLLs Windows deals with. With their file names not much of help, it is impossible to figure out what each DLL file does at a glance. It becomes even worse when there is a report of a missing DLL file for an unknown reason. Among the problems with DLL files, msvcr80.dll is one of the most common and annoying errors.
About the msvcr80.dll file
msvcr80.dll is a dynamic link library that can be found in the Windows folder. Unlike other DLL files, msvcr80.dll is not a critical component of Windows. However, it is part of the Microsoft C runtime library which is required to run any applications created by Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. The error popups up when you run certain applications and the file is nowhere to be found.
Malware Status
Some of the msvcr80.dll files are actually malware and does malicious activity by injecting the process into other applications resulting to a change in the way the application behaves. There is no window or tray icon indicating that the file is active and can easily be detected by checking if the whether or not the file has a description. msvcr80.dll files that have no description are most likely the malware ones. The file size should be 626,888 bytes. Anything other than that also gives the hint that it could be a malware. It can also be considered a malware If the file is not located in the Windows folder.
When Problems Arise
The malware version of the msvcr80.dll should be terminated immediately if found running. It may consume a significant amount of memory which results to the system performance and stability decreasing. Some applications may not function very well either. Reinstalling the Microsoft C runtime libraries may also help fix the problem too as the original file may overwrite the malware version.
Fixing Problems using Registry Scanners
Even after you fixed the problem, the missing DLL error may reoccur. This may be caused by a corrupted registry done by the malware or other Visual Studio application. Perform a thorough registry check using a registry scanner that has been reviewed positive by people around the web and fix any errors that are detected. Scanning for malware using a good malware scanner also helps as well. There might be some cases where the file is detected, but cannot be removed because the process is in use. To get around that problem, either scan the computer in “Safe Mode” or terminate the DLL file using an advanced task manager like “Process Explorer”.
Once the malware is gone, your system should be running a bit faster. It may not fix the “msvcr80.dll missing” problem since the malware version was removed. Therefore you should replace it with the real one right after you deleted the bad one. You can obtain that file from a website that contains a list of DLL files or by reinstalling Microsoft C runtime files. You can also try copying it from another computer, but make sure the version is the same as it may cause further problems.