In this era of modern computing, there is a whole range of programs that most systems use for superior efficiency. And while the user is unaware of the benefit of the programs, we do face a considerable amount of chagrin every time one of those programs stops working or starts malfunctioning. In order for us to troubleshoot effectively and precisely, we must be aware of the relevant process and all the options available to the user. In this article, we focus on the xlive.dll process and look at its usage, relevance and the remedies available to the user when a complication arises.

A file with the extension .dll, which stands for dynamic link library, is basically a file which contains a series of information and instructions to ensure the smooth functioning of a system which can be utilized by many programs while executing their functions. The beauty of this format is that the information is subjective and hence the same set of instructions can be shared by a variety of programs that apply it to different practical environments.

Xlive.dll belongs to Microsoft Games for Windows and hence is used primarily for gaming and other graphics intensive activities. It originates most commonly from system processes and from programs the user has already installed on the computer. Since it is a non-system software, it can be removed from the computer as it is not involved in running the operating system. However, to permanently uninstall Xlive.dll from the computer, the user will have to remove Microsoft Games for Windows Live from the computer, as it is the parent file, of which Xlive.dll is simply a part.

The user should however, be wary of unnecessarily deleting the software as it may lead to invalid registry entries which accumulate over time. If you find that the software in question is slowing down your software or overloading your Central Processing Unit, you can direct Microsoft System Configuration Utility to simply track processes that automatically activate during start-up and disable them manually.

However, there are many occasions that the software leads to serious worries. There are many different ways in which Xlive.dll can show an error message on your computer. Owing to a serious malfunction or corruption, a typical message might be displayed on your computer screen, “Xlive.dll was not found”. Other error messages might suggest re-installing the software. In case of such a problem, there are a variety of solutions that you can apply. Most commonly, an error with Xlive.dll suggests absence or corruption of the file. In certain cases, it might be the result of a registry problem, a virus or a malware attack or in the worst possible scenario, a hardware fault.


However, in such circumstances, don’t ever download individual dll files since they are not approved sources and lead to larger problems. Since most of the stand-alone websites which host such programs are unapproved, they may be outdated. Also, your computer software might be experiencing a larger problem which goes undetected every time you apply a .dll patch to temporarily remedy the problem. Hence it is always better to not apply a temporary solution and instead investigate the root cause of the problem.

We list some of the remedies that you can use in case of a complication. You should start Windows in safe mode in case you’re unable to access Windows normally.

1) Download Games for Windows Live. Since the file in question is a constituent of the download, installing it will replace the missing Xlive.dll file.

2) However, there is always the possibility of the user having accidentally deleted the file. In such cases, simply restoring the file from the recycle bin and installing it will solve the problem.

3) As it has already been mentioned, the underlying problem in a lot of cases is a virus or a malware attack and hence the solution is to simply run a system scan for virus and malware. Once the incriminating bits of software have been removed or quarantined, chances are that the error messages will disappear.

4) There is also the possibility that the error is due to a recent change the user made to the system configuration. In such cases, a simple undoing of recent system changes will get rid of the problem.

5) If the error is displayed while the user is accessing a particular program, it is always a good idea to un-install and re-install the program. Such a measure will simply replace the Xlive.dll file.

6) In more extreme cases, the user might be required to repair the windows installation, perform a registry cleaning which will remove invalid registry entries or completely re-install a fresh copy of windows.

7) In case of a hardware problem, re-installing the drivers is always a good idea. Once that is done, if the problem still persists, the user can perform a memory check and test the hard drive. If the hard drive fails any of the tests, the only thing left to do is replace the hard drive.

As with most other .dll files, the troubleshooting techniques described in this article are applicable to most operating systems beginning with Windows 2000 and then Windows XP, Vista and 7.