An Error Has Occurred While Loading Imports. Wrong Dll Present Exclusive

The error message "An error has occurred while loading imports. Wrong DLL present" typically occurs when a software application attempts to load a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file that is incompatible with the system's architecture (e.g., 32-bit vs. 64-bit) or is the wrong version for the application's current update.

This specific error is frequently reported by players of games like Once Human or Geometry Dash, particularly when using Steam's Proton compatibility layer on Linux or when running older operating systems like Windows 7. Common Causes

Proton Version Incompatibility: Often triggered when using an outdated or incompatible version of Proton (like Proton 7) after a game update has introduced new dependencies.

Operating System Mismatch: Attempting to run modern software on legacy systems like Windows 7 that do not support the required DLL versions.

Corrupt or Missing Dependencies: Missing or corrupt Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages often lead to import errors. The error message "An error has occurred while

Security Software Interference: Antivirus programs may quarantine or block essential DLL files, leading to loading failures. How to Fix the Error Depending on your platform, try the following solutions:

5. Special Case: Borland Database Engine (BDE)

A huge number of "wrong DLL present" errors originate from the Borland Database Engine, especially with applications created in Delphi 7 or earlier.

Symptoms:

• Error references IDAPI32.DLL or SQLMSS32.DLL.
• Occurs when app tries to connect to Paradox, dBase, or legacy SQL Server.

Fix:

1. Download the official BDE Installer (v5.2 or later).
2. Uninstall any existing BDE via Control Panel → Programs.
3. Reinstall BDE to a clean directory (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Borland Shared\BDE).
4. Add this path to your system PATH after the application’s own folder.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this error a sign of malware?
Usually, no. It’s overwhelmingly a compatibility or deployment issue. However, if the wrong DLL is an unexpected name like winlogon.dll or kernel32.dll and appears in an app folder, it could be a red flag.

Q: Can I simply delete the "wrong" DLL?
Only if you are certain it is not used by any other application. Use Process Explorer (Find → Find Handle or DLL) to check usage.

Q: Why does the error appear after a Windows Update?
Windows updates sometimes replace system runtime files (e.g., midas.dll used by Delphi apps). Reinstall your application’s redistributable files.

Q: Does this error occur on Linux/Wine?
Yes, Wine users see this when the wrong native Windows DLL is overridden incorrectly. Use winetricks to install the correct version of the required runtime. Error references IDAPI32

1. Architecture Mismatch (Most Common)

• A 64‑bit application tries to load a 32‑bit DLL (or vice versa).
• This frequently happens with Python packages, Node.js native modules, or C++ redistributables.

Step 2: Use Dependency Walker or Dependencies (Modern Alternative)

Dependency Walker (depends.exe) is a classic tool, though it may not be fully compatible with modern Windows. The better alternative is Dependencies (by LucasG, available on GitHub).

• Load your .exe file into the tool.
• Look for modules marked in red (missing) or yellow (wrong version).
• Pay special attention to modules with names like rtl*.bpl, vcl*.bpl, cc*.dll, borlnd*.*.

6. Prevention and Best Practices

To avoid ever seeing this error again:

For End Users & IT Admins:

• Isolate legacy applications in virtual machines (e.g., Windows XP VM for old Delphi apps).
• Use application virtualization (ThinApp, Sandboxie, or MSIX with custom runtimes).
• Maintain a repository of exact DLL versions used by each legacy app.

Step 3: Clean & Rebuild from Scratch (The Nuclear Option)

Partial builds are often the real cause. Delete everything except source code.

• Delete build/, dist/, __pycache__/, .obj, .lib folders.
• Delete cmake cache.
• Rebuild completely.