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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallxpstar.dll is a Microsoft SQL Server component, not a normal Windows system DLL. If Windows or SQL Server reports that xpstar.dll is missing, was not found, or could not be loaded, repair the matching SQL Server installation instead of copying a replacement into System32.
The safest fix is SQL Server Setup’s Maintenance → Repair option. The error can also result from a missing dependency, a failed SQL Server update, antivirus quarantine, or an architecture mismatch.
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What is xpstar.dll?
xpstar.dll is the XPSTAR70 Resource DLL, published by Microsoft and installed with Microsoft SQL Server. SQL Server loads it as an extended-stored-procedure library from the instance’s MSSQLBinn directory.
For a typical SQL Server 2019 installation, the path resembles:
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C:Program FilesMicrosoft SQL ServerMSSQL15.<instance>MSSQLBinn
The exact path depends on:
- SQL Server major version
- Instance name
- 32-bit or 64-bit architecture
- Installation location
- Whether the instance is named or default
Microsoft’s SQL Server servicing inventories list Xpstar.dll in SQL Server 2016, 2017, and 2019 builds, with different versions and file sizes. That means there is no single universal xpstar.dll version that works for every installation.
It is not part of Windows. Do not normally place it in either of these folders:
C:WindowsSystem32
C:WindowsSysWOW64
Microsoft describes the extended stored procedure loading mechanism and the SQL Server MSSQLBinn location in its extended stored procedure documentation.
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What the xpstar.dll error means
You may see one of these messages:
Could not load the DLL xpstar.dll, or one of the DLLs it references.
The code execution cannot proceed because xpstar.dll was not found.
xpstar.dll is missing from your computer.
SQL Server may also write this to its ERRORLOG:
Attempting to load library 'xpstar.dll' into memory.
The message does not always mean that xpstar.dll itself is absent. Windows may be able to find the file but fail to load one of the DLLs that it depends on.
SQL Server error 17750 is commonly associated with this failure. Microsoft’s SQL Server error 17750 discussion includes the “Could not load the DLL xpstar.dll, or one of the DLLs it references” wording.
The first question is therefore where the failure occurs:
- When the SQL Server service starts
- When an
xp_*extended stored procedure runs - During SQL Server installation, repair, upgrade, or update
- When a separate application attempts to use a SQL Server component
Start with the SQL Server repair procedure below.
Fix 1: Repair the SQL Server instance
Time needed: 15–45 minutes, depending on the installation media and instance.
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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 errorsRepair is the best first step when xpstar.dll was deleted, damaged, replaced, or left inconsistent after an interrupted update. Microsoft says SQL Server repair replaces missing or corrupt files, registry keys, and invalid configuration values.
Repair from SQL Server installation media
- Obtain installation media for the same SQL Server major version installed on the computer.
- Open the media or mounted ISO in File Explorer.
- Double-click
setup.exe. - Wait for SQL Server Setup to load.
- Select Maintenance in the left pane.
- Select Repair.
- Choose the affected SQL Server instance.
- Complete the prerequisite and validation checks.
- Select Repair.
- Restart Windows if Setup requests it.
- Start the SQL Server service and test the operation that produced the error.
Microsoft’s official procedure is Repair a failed SQL Server installation.
For SQL Server Express, use the offline installer or downloaded installation media rather than relying on a small web installer that may not contain the required repair files.
Command-line repair
An administrator can start a quiet repair with:
setup.exe /q /ACTION=Repair /INSTANCENAME=<instancename>
Replace <instancename> with the actual SQL Server instance name. Do not use the display name of the Windows service unless it is also the SQL Server instance name.
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To find installed instances:
- Press Windows+R.
- Enter:
text
services.msc
- Select OK.
- Look for services named similarly to:
SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)for the default instanceSQL Server (INSTANCE_NAME)for a named instance
If the repair fails because an MSI or MSP cache file is missing, do not download a replacement package from an untrusted source. Follow Microsoft’s guidance for restoring missing Windows Installer cache files.
How to tell whether repair worked
Repair succeeded when:
- SQL Server Setup reports a successful repair
- The SQL Server service starts normally
- The expected
xpstar.dllexists under the instance’sMSSQLBinndirectory - The same startup or extended-procedure operation no longer produces error 17750
If the file still fails to load, continue with the dependency and version checks below. A visible xpstar.dll does not prove that every required dependency is present.
Fix 2: Check for a missing Visual C++ dependency
Time needed: 10–20 minutes.
The message “or one of the DLLs it references” is important. SQL Server may find xpstar.dll but fail because a required Microsoft Visual C++ runtime is missing or damaged.
This is particularly worth checking if the problem began after:
- Uninstalling a Visual C++ Redistributable
- Cleaning up old runtimes
- Restoring an older SQL Server installation
- Applying or removing an update
- Migrating the SQL Server instance to another computer
The required runtime depends on the SQL Server release and its dependencies. Do not assume that installing only the newest package is correct for every SQL Server version.
- Identify the SQL Server major version and edition.
- Check the SQL Server installation documentation or installation media for its prerequisites.
- Open Microsoft’s latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads.
- Choose the architecture required by the SQL Server installation.
- Run the package.
- If the installer offers Repair, select it.
- If it is not installed, select Install.
- Restart Windows.
- Start SQL Server and test again.
Microsoft provides current architecture-specific packages, including:
Older SQL Server releases may require an older prerequisite package. Use the package specified for that SQL Server version rather than guessing.
If the file exists but still will not load
Check the SQL Server ERRORLOG for the first load failure. The error may identify a different missing DLL or runtime. Also review Setup logs if the problem began during an installation or update.
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Avoid deleting Visual C++ packages simply because several versions appear in Installed apps. Different Microsoft applications and SQL Server releases can depend on different runtime versions.
Fix 3: Repair or complete a SQL Server update
Time needed: 20–60 minutes.
A failed cumulative update, security update, general distribution release, or service pack can leave SQL Server binaries at inconsistent versions.
Use this path when the error started after an update or when Setup reports that servicing did not finish.
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- Open Settings.
- Select Windows Update.
- Select Advanced options.
- Review Optional updates if your organization distributes SQL Server updates there.
- Check the SQL Server installation’s current major version and build.
- Download the applicable update from Microsoft’s SQL Server servicing information.
- Run the update as an administrator.
- Complete the installation.
- Restart the SQL Server service or restart Windows.
- Test the affected operation again.
Microsoft explains the supported servicing channels in Install SQL Server servicing updates.
If the update refuses to install, repair the SQL Server instance first. Then retry the applicable update. Do not replace one DLL manually to work around a partially applied update.
Fix 4: Check antivirus quarantine and file security
Time needed: 10–30 minutes.
Security software may quarantine xpstar.dll or a dependency. The filename alone does not prove that a detection is correct or incorrect.
- Open Windows Security.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Select Protection history.
- Look for a recent event involving
xpstar.dllor the SQL ServerMSSQLBinndirectory. - Confirm the file path, detection name, and action taken.
- Check any separate enterprise antivirus or endpoint-security console.
- Do not restore the file blindly.
- Verify that it came from the matching SQL Server installation and that its digital signature identifies Microsoft.
- After restoring a verified file, run SQL Server Setup repair.
- Update the security product and run a full scan.
If the file is unsigned, appears outside the SQL Server directory, or was modified unexpectedly, preserve the security logs and scan the computer before attempting a repair.
Fix 5: Confirm the SQL Server version and architecture
Time needed: 10–15 minutes.
A 32-bit DLL cannot substitute safely for a 64-bit SQL Server binary. A file from another SQL Server major version may also have incompatible exports or dependencies.
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- Open SQL Server Configuration Manager.
- Select SQL Server Services.
- Identify the affected instance.
- Open SQL Server Management Studio, if available.
- Connect to the instance.
- Run:
sql
SELECT
SERVERPROPERTY('ProductVersion') AS ProductVersion,
SERVERPROPERTY('ProductLevel') AS ProductLevel,
SERVERPROPERTY('Edition') AS Edition;
- Note the instance name and product version.
- Locate the instance’s
MSSQLBinndirectory. - Right-click
xpstar.dll. - Select Properties and review Details and Digital Signatures.
Microsoft’s servicing inventories show different Xpstar.dll versions and sizes for SQL Server 2016, 2017, and 2019. Treat any displayed version as specific to that build, not as a universal requirement.
Repair the exact instance using matching installation media. Do not copy a 32-bit file into a 64-bit instance or use a file from another SQL Server release.
Fix 6: Repair Windows components with DISM and SFC
Time needed: 15–45 minutes.
SFC and DISM are appropriate when Windows itself may be corrupted. They are not the primary repair for xpstar.dll, because xpstar.dll belongs to SQL Server rather than the protected Windows system-file set.
- Right-click Start.
- Select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
- Select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
- Run:
text
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
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- Wait for DISM to finish.
- Then run:
text
sfc /scannow
- Wait until verification reaches 100 percent.
- Restart Windows.
- Test SQL Server again.
Microsoft documents this sequence in Repair a Windows image.
If SFC reports that it repaired files, that does not necessarily mean it repaired xpstar.dll. Run SQL Server Setup repair separately if the SQL Server error continues.
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Fix 7: Update related drivers only when another application is involved
Time needed: 15–30 minutes.
Drivers do not normally repair an SQL Server-owned xpstar.dll. Consider this step only when the error comes from a separate application that uses SQL Server components and the application also reports graphics, storage, chipset, or device failures.
To check drivers manually:
- Right-click Start.
- Select Device Manager.
- Expand the relevant category, such as Display adapters, Storage controllers, or System devices.
- Right-click the affected device.
- Select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers.
- Restart Windows if a driver is installed.
- Test the separate application again.
Do not use Device Manager as a substitute for SQL Server repair. Outbyte Driver Updater can identify stale drivers without manually checking each device, but the free scan only reports issues and the full version performs the driver installation; it will not replace the need to repair an SQL Server installation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix 8: Reinstall the affected application or SQL Server instance
Time needed: 30 minutes to several hours.
If repair cannot complete and xpstar.dll remains missing or damaged, reinstall the matching SQL Server component from trusted Microsoft installation media.
Before removing anything:
- Record the instance name
- Back up databases
- Save configuration details
- Confirm the SQL Server edition and major version
- Confirm whether other instances share the computer
- Preserve SQL Server ERRORLOG and Setup logs
Use SQL Server Setup to remove and reinstall only after ordinary repair has failed and you understand the effect on databases and services.
If a game or unrelated application is reporting xpstar.dll, first determine whether it installed SQL Server or merely expects a component from another product. Use that application’s official installer or built-in file-verification feature when available. Do not assume that reinstalling DirectX or .NET repairs an SQL Server DLL.
Do not download or register xpstar.dll manually
Avoid DLL archive websites and files copied from another computer. A downloaded file can have:
- The wrong SQL Server major version
- The wrong architecture
- Missing dependencies
- An invalid or absent Microsoft signature
- Malware or unwanted modifications
- A different export set from the file your instance expects
Manual copying also leaves the SQL Server installation registry and servicing state inconsistent.
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regsvr32 xpstar.dll
regsvr32 is intended for DLLs that expose registration functions such as DllRegisterServer. SQL Server’s extended-procedure DLL loading is handled by SQL Server, not ordinary COM registration. Microsoft documents regsvr32 separately from its SQL Server extended stored procedure documentation.
Registering the file will not restore a missing dependency or repair a damaged SQL Server update.
Common causes of xpstar.dll errors
| Likely cause | Appropriate response |
|---|---|
| Corrupt or incomplete SQL Server installation | Run SQL Server Setup repair |
| Missing Visual C++ dependency | Repair the runtime required by that SQL Server release |
| Failed CU, GDR, service pack, or upgrade | Repair SQL Server, then apply the applicable update |
| Antivirus quarantine | Verify the event and restore only a trusted Microsoft-signed file |
| Wrong architecture or SQL Server version | Use matching installation media |
| Missing installer cache files | Follow Microsoft’s installer-cache recovery guidance |
| Windows component corruption | Run DISM, then SFC |
| Malware or unauthorized modification | Scan, preserve logs, and repair from trusted media |
Information to collect if repair fails
Gather this before asking for technical help or opening a support case:
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- SQL Server version and edition
- SQL Server instance name
- 32-bit or 64-bit architecture
- Exact error text and error number
- SQL Server ERRORLOG
- SQL Server Setup logs
- Full path to
xpstar.dll - File version and size
- Digital signature status
- Recent antivirus quarantine history
- Recent cleanup, update, migration, or failed installation activity
- Whether the failure occurs during startup or only when an
xp_*procedure runs
The most useful clue is often in the SQL Server ERRORLOG immediately before or after the Attempting to load library 'xpstar.dll' into memory entry.
FAQ
Is xpstar.dll a Windows file?
No. It is a Microsoft SQL Server component. It should normally be located in the relevant SQL Server instance’s MSSQLBinn directory.
Should I copy xpstar.dll into System32?
No. That can create version and architecture conflicts and does not repair the SQL Server installation.
Should I use regsvr32?
Generally no. SQL Server loads this file as an extended-stored-procedure library, not as an ordinary self-registering Windows COM DLL.
Is one xpstar.dll version correct for every SQL Server installation?
No. Microsoft’s SQL Server inventories show different versions and sizes across releases and builds.
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Can SFC fix xpstar.dll?
Usually not. SFC repairs protected Windows system files. Use SQL Server Setup repair for a missing or damaged SQL Server DLL.
What if xpstar.dll exists but SQL Server still reports that it cannot load it?
Check the dependencies, especially the Visual C++ runtime, and review the SQL Server ERRORLOG. The message may refer to a dependency rather than the file itself.
Is the file malware?
Not merely because the name appears in an error. It is a genuine Microsoft SQL Server component, but a copy outside the expected SQL Server directory or without a valid signature should be investigated.
Should I restore the file with System Restore?
Only after SQL Server repair, dependency checks, update checks, and antivirus investigation fail. System Restore is not a substitute for database backups or SQL Server servicing.
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What is the safest fix?
Repair the affected SQL Server instance from matching Microsoft installation media, then apply the applicable SQL Server update. This restores the file together with its registration, dependencies, and servicing state.
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