Users receive this kind of error when one of the Dynamic Link Library (.dll) files are missing from the Windows Operating System. These files are part of the operating system and are required by Windows to run certain other programs. These files are shared by multiple programs and act as a shared library to provide resources such as functions, classes, variables, and other resources like icons and images, etc. If Gdi32full.dll is missing, it is probably due to the fact that either it has been misplaced by some other program or a malicious program has corrupted the file or damaged a Windows Registry. You might receive error messages like below:
The code execution cannot proceed because C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\gdi32full.dll was not found. Reinstalling might fix the problem
Method 1: System File Check (SFC) Scan To Repair System Files
Windows File Checker is a System Utility that comes with a built-in feature with all modern versions of Windows OperatingSystem. It allows you to fix the damaged or corrupt Windows files in the System. In order to run SFC, you need to run cmd with elevated mode (with administrator privileges).
- In the Windows Search bar type cmd and right-click and select Run as administrator
- In the Command Prompt Window type, SFC /scannow and press enter to execute the command
- The System File Checker will start running to check the integrity of all the system files and will repair the corrupt .dll files if found.
Once the SFC has finished scanning the system it will display one of the following messages:
- Windows did not find any integrity violations (a good thing)
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and repaired them (a good thing)
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some (or all) of them (not a good thing)
If you get the third message that means the Windows File Checker was not able to fix all the files, in that case, proceed to the following method.
Method 2: Using Deployment Image Service Management (DISM)
In this method, we will use a Windows utility called Deployment Image Service and Management that allows us to repair an installed Windows image. First, we will find whether the files are repairable and then try to repair them.
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Type “DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth” and press Enter to execute, this will check if the files are repairable.
- Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” to repair the files
Once the commands execute restart your system and check if the problem has been resolved.
Method 3: Reset your PC
In this method, we will reinstall the windows but we will keep the saved data; however, the installed programs will be removed. When we perform a reset, the PC will be restored to the factory default state which means that all the corrupt or missing system files will be restored too including the .dll files. This can be accomplished from the Windows settings, the sign-in screen, or by using an installation media.
Reset from Windows Settings
- Search for Update Settings in the Windows Search Menu and click to open it.
- Go to the Recovery option in the Update & Security Settings and click on Get Started under the Reset this PC option
- In the new window that pops up, choose the option that says Keep my files.
- In the Next screen under Additional Settings click on the Change settings option, this will give you a list of applications that came installed with your PC and you can choose whether to keep these applications or not.
Reset from Sign-in Screen
If you are unable to open the Update & Settings screen. You can reset the Windows from your Sign-In screen as well. Please follow the below steps:
- Press Windows + L on your keyboard to go to the Sign-in Screen.
- Press and hold the Shift key and then click on the Power option > Restart in the lower right corner of the screen. This will force the PC to restart in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
- When the PC restarts on the Blue screen, choose the option to Troubleshoot and then click on Reset this PC.