How to Fix Dx8vb.dll Not Found or Missing Errors

If a simple restart doesn't help, install the latest version of DirectX

By
Tim Fisher
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Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University

Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.

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Updated on August 10, 2022

Dx8vb.dll issues are caused in one way or another by an issue with Microsoft DirectX.

The dx8vb.dll file is one of many files contained in the DirectX software collection. Since DirectX is utilized by most Windows based games and advanced graphics programs, dx8vb.dll errors usually show up only when using these programs.

Any of Microsoft's operating systems since Windows 98 may be affected by dx8vb.dll and other DirectX issues. This includes Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

Dx8vb.dll Errors

There are several ways dx8vb.dll errors can show up on your computer. Some of the more common messages include the following:

  • The file dx8vb.dll is missing
  • Dx8vb.DLL Not Found
  • File dx8vb.dll not found
  • Dx8vb.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this.

These error messages could apply to any program that utilizes Microsoft DirectX, but they usually appear when a video game is started.

Dx8vb.dll was not found error message

How to Fix Dx8vb.dll Errors

Follow these tips in the order they're presented, which starts with the easier-to-fix solutions.

Don't download dx8vb.dll individually from any "DLL download site." There are a number of reasons why downloading DLLs from these sites is never a good idea. If you've already done so, delete it from wherever you put it, and continue with the below steps.

  1. Restart your computer if you haven't yet. The error might be a fluke and a simple restart could clear it up completely.

  2. Install the latest version of Microsoft DirectX. Chances are, upgrading to the latest version will fix the dx8vb.dll not found error.

    Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc., are all supported by this same DirectX installation package. It will install any DirectX file needed and supported in that version of Windows.

    Microsoft often releases updates to DirectX without updating the version number or letter, so be sure to install the latest release even if your version is technically the same.

  3. Assuming the latest DirectX version from Microsoft doesn't fix the dx8vb.dll error you're receiving, look for a DirectX installation program on your game or application CD or DVD. Usually, if a game or other program utilizes DirectX, the software developers will include a copy of it on the installation disc.

    Sometimes, though not often, the version included on the disc is a better fit for the program than the latest version available online.

  4. Uninstall the game or software program and then reinstall it again. Something might have happened to the program files that work with dx8vb.dll, and a reinstallation could do the trick.

    If it's a Steam game, and reinstalling didn't help, look for a file called redist001 in the game's installation folder. Run that to install the necessary drivers.

  5. Restore the dx8vb.dll file from the latest DirectX software package. If the above troubleshooting steps haven't worked to solve your error, try extracting the file individually from the DirectX downloadable package.

  6. Update the drivers for your video card. While it's not the most common solution, in some situations, updating the drivers for the video card in your computer could correct this DirectX issue.

Need More Help?

If you're not interested in fixing this dx8vb DLL problem yourself, see How Do I Get My Computer Fixed? for a full list of your support options, plus help with everything along the way like figuring out repair costs, getting your files off, choosing a repair service, and a lot more.

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