Start with these three checks
Before replacing anything, write down:
- Which program displays the error: IIS, Event Viewer, a monitoring tool, or an unrelated game or application.
- When it appears: during Windows startup, when opening an application, or when IIS performance counters are queried.
- Your system architecture: open Settings > System > About and check System type for 64-bit or 32-bit Windows.
infoctrs.dll is a genuine Microsoft IIS performance-counter provider. It supplies IIS counter data to Windows performance tools; it is not a Visual C++ runtime, DirectX file, .NET file, game dependency, or hardware-driver DLL.
The file is included when the relevant IIS component is installed. It is not guaranteed to exist on every Windows installation. Microsoft records separate x86, x64, and WOW64 IIS copies, so downloading an arbitrary copy can create a version or architecture mismatch.
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Identify which type of failure you have
The repair depends on whether Windows cannot load the file or IIS can load it but cannot use its counters.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| What you see | Most likely problem |
|---|---|
| “The program can’t start because infoctrs.dll is missing” | IIS is absent, partially removed, quarantined, or damaged |
| “The code execution cannot proceed because infoctrs.dll was not found” | A program is requesting an IIS component it may not need |
| “Error loading infoctrs.dll” | Missing file, wrong architecture, or damaged dependencies |
| “Not designed to run on Windows” | Wrong, corrupt, or unofficial DLL |
| IIS or Perflib Event Viewer errors | The file may exist, but performance-counter registration is damaged |
A missing-DLL message from a random game is unusual because infoctrs.dll belongs to IIS. Do not install a replacement DLL until you know which executable requested it.
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Fix 1: Check whether IIS is installed
This is the quickest supported check.
Windows 11 and Windows 10 client editions
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
optionalfeaturesand press Enter. - Find Internet Information Services.
- Expand it and check whether the required IIS features are enabled. World Wide Web Services and IIS Management Console are common selections.
- Select the features your application actually requires.
- Select OK and restart Windows if prompted.
You can also open Settings > System > Optional features and review installed Windows features. Windows obtains optional-feature content through Windows Update.
Microsoft’s IIS installation guidance explains the available IIS components.
If you do not use IIS, do not enable it merely to satisfy an unexplained message from a game. First identify the executable that is requesting infoctrs.dll.
Windows Server
- Open Server Manager.
- Select Manage > Add Roles and Features.
- Choose Role-based or feature-based installation.
- Select the target server.
- Enable Web Server (IIS) and the required management tools.
- Complete the wizard and restart if requested.
An elevated PowerShell window can install the Web Server role with:
Install-WindowsFeature Web-Server -IncludeManagementTools
Follow Microsoft’s Web Server role installation instructions.
Check the result
After installing or repairing IIS, restart Windows and repeat the action that produced the error. If the loader message disappears, the missing component was the cause.
If the same error remains, continue with Windows component repair. IIS installation alone does not repair every damaged Windows file.
Fix 2: Repair Windows components with DISM and SFC
Use this sequence when IIS is enabled but infoctrs.dll is missing, corrupt, or rejected by Windows.
- Open Start.
- Type
Command Prompt. - Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Wait for DISM to finish.
- Run:
sfc /scannow
DISM repairs the Windows component source that SFC uses. SFC then checks protected system files and replaces damaged copies. Run DISM first, not the other way around.
A successful SFC result says that Windows Resource Protection found no integrity violations or repaired corrupted files. Restart Windows and test again.
If SFC says it could not repair some files, restart and run SFC again after DISM completes. If it still fails, review CBS.log or use a matching Windows repair source. On supported Windows 11 systems, you may also find Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using Windows Update > Reinstall now.
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When manually repeating DISM and SFC leaves you unsure which repair changed the system, Outbyte PC Repair can scan for the reported problems; its free scan shows what it finds, while repair is handled by the full version. It is optional, and repairing or reinstalling the IIS component remains the definitive fix when IIS itself is missing.
Fix 3: Check antivirus quarantine
Security software may quarantine a legitimate Windows component, or it may have detected an unofficial replacement.
Windows Security
- Open Start > Windows Security.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Protection history.
- Review entries related to
infoctrs.dll. - If the item is clearly from the Windows IIS component and its location and signature are trustworthy, use the available Allow on device or restore option.
- Restart Windows and test again.
Do not restore a file only because its name matches. A copy stored in an application folder, a temporary folder, or an unexpected directory should be treated cautiously. Scan the system and verify the file’s digital signature and location first.
Microsoft explains the process in its Protection History guidance.
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Use this step when the file exists but Event Viewer reports IIS or Perflib counter failures. Typical messages include:
- Microsoft-Windows-IIS-W3SVC-PerfCounters, Event ID 2002
- IISInfoCtrs, Event ID 1001
- Perflib Event ID 2003
These indicate that IIS performance-counter registration may be broken. They do not necessarily mean the DLL is missing.
Locate the matching IIS component directory
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
dir C:WindowsWinSxSamd64_microsoft-windows-iis-metabase*
dir C:WindowsWinSxSx86_microsoft-windows-iis-metabase*
dir C:WindowsWinSxSwow64_microsoft-windows-iis-metabase*
Look for the component-store folder containing the matching infoctrs.ini file. More than one similarly named folder may exist. The correct folder depends on the installed Windows architecture and IIS component.
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From the folder containing the matching file, run:
lodctr "C:WindowsWinSxS<matching-folder>infoctrs.ini"
winmgmt /resyncperf
Replace <matching-folder> with the actual folder name. Do not type the angle brackets.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRestart Windows, then open Event Viewer by pressing Windows + R, typing eventvwr.msc, and pressing Enter. Check Windows Logs > Application for new IIS or Perflib errors.
lodctr registers performance-counter names and settings. winmgmt /resyncperf resynchronizes performance data with Windows Management Instrumentation. Microsoft documents this manual counter-rebuild procedure and the lodctr command.
Do not use regsvr32 infoctrs.dll as a substitute. regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that provide COM self-registration through DllRegisterServer; IIS performance-counter providers use counter configuration and lodctr instead.
Fix 5: Check architecture and application targeting
Microsoft servicing records include x86, x64, and WOW64 versions of the IIS component. A 32-bit program running on 64-bit Windows may use the WOW64 or x86 IIS component, while 64-bit programs require the corresponding 64-bit component.
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Do not copy an x86 DLL into a 64-bit Windows directory, or copy a 64-bit DLL beside a 32-bit application. Repair IIS through Windows Features or Server Manager so Windows selects the correct serviced files.
If the error comes from a third-party monitoring program, update or reinstall that program from its official vendor installer after repairing IIS. If the program does not actually monitor IIS, its request for infoctrs.dll may indicate a broken installation or an incorrect dependency.
Fix 6: Do not begin with driver reinstallation
infoctrs.dll is not a hardware-driver file, and driver reinstall is not a primary remedy. Consider drivers only if the same incident includes a separate Device Manager problem.
To check:
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand the device category related to the separate error.
- Right-click the device and choose Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers.
- Restart if Windows installs an update.
If you are manually hunting through many device versions, Outbyte Driver Updater can scan and show which drivers it identifies; its free scan reports the findings, while driver installation is handled by the full version. This is optional and does not replace IIS repair for an infoctrs.dll error.
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Avoid these unsafe fixes
Do not download infoctrs.dll from a random DLL website or copy it from another computer. That can introduce malware, an unsigned file, the wrong Windows servicing version, or the wrong architecture. It may also leave IIS performance-counter registration broken.
The safe sources are:
- Windows Features or Server Manager for IIS
- DISM and SFC for Windows component repair
- Windows Update or a matching Microsoft repair source
- The official installer for an application that legitimately monitors IIS
The exact path varies by Windows release, architecture, and component servicing. Older systems commonly use %windir%System32, while component-store copies may be under WinSxS. Do not assume that every Windows 10 or Windows 11 installation contains the file.
FAQ
Is infoctrs.dll a real Windows file?
Yes. It is a Microsoft IIS performance-counter provider associated with IIS metabase and InetInfo components.
Is it required for every Windows computer?
No. It is present when the relevant IIS component is installed. A normal Windows installation that does not use IIS may not contain it.
Is infoctrs.dll part of Visual C++ or DirectX?
No. Installing Visual C++, DirectX, or .NET redistributables is not a file-specific fix for this DLL.
Why does a game mention it?
A game should not normally require an IIS performance-counter provider. Identify the executable that produces the message, then repair or reinstall that application from its official source rather than copying the DLL.
Should I register it with regsvr32?
Normally, no. Rebuild IIS performance counters with the matching infoctrs.ini and lodctr when Event Viewer shows counter-registration failures.
What information is useful if the error remains?
Record the exact error text, Windows version and build, whether IIS is installed, the executable displaying the message, the reported DLL path, and related Event Viewer entries. Those details distinguish a missing IIS component from a damaged counter registration or an unrelated application problem.
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