Unload .dll’s to Free Memory

AddThis Feed Button

August 29th, 2004 Leave a comment Visited 207 times, 31 so far today

Windows Explorer caches DLLs (Dynamic-Link Libraries) in memory for a period of time after the application using them has been closed. This can be an inefficient use of memory.

1. Find the key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer].
2. Create a new DWORD sub-key named ‘AlwaysUnloadDLL’ and set the default value to equal ‘1′ to disable Windows caching the DLL in memory.
3. Restart Windows for the change to take effect.





TechWhack on Facebook

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

6 Comments

  1. #
    Bill
    January 8th, 2005 at 2:21 am

    I was ask when I bought my new HP pavilion a347x if I wonted the tecniction at the store to take off programs that come with each new computer. Cost $65.00. I said no. Can I free up space on the hard drice myself. please advise

    Reply to this comment
  2. #
    PSssssssss
    February 25th, 2005 at 6:25 pm

    Create a new DWORD sub-key named âAlwaysUnloadDLLâ
    Useless & wrong advise, because there is already presents:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAlwaysUnloadDll ,of Type REG_SZ

    Reply to this comment
  3. #
    pbrewster
    March 10th, 2005 at 6:41 am

    How to retrieve dll’s when they are in the system but files do not recognize them when installing? What utility programs are used to open dll files?

    Reply to this comment
  4. #
    Jinx
    May 11th, 2006 at 1:30 pm

    Thank you for your contribution, very useful, I was unable to remove a folder before this trick!

    Reply to this comment
  5. #
    Amarjeet Jayanthi
    February 8th, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    Hi,

    That was some very helpful stuff on Windows Explorer related to DLL’s.

    Regards,
    Amarjeet

    Reply to this comment
  6. #
    Larry Miller
    January 22nd, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    If this setting actually worked as claimed it would impair performance. Fortunately it does not. The description provided here has virtually no connection with reality. This setting is of no value to most users. As of WIndows 2000 it is of no value to anyone – it is no longer supported.

    Larry Miller
    Microsoft MCSA

    Reply to this comment

Leave a Comment

Related Posts

Popular Posts

blank