Visual Basic Error 53: File not found: <file name>.dll

You may see this error when opening the Early PowerPlay Power Estimator (EPE) tool. 

When you run the EPE for the first time, the dll files are copied to a temporary file folder on your PC.  When a dll file is missing, this error is generated.

To fix this issue, follow the instructions below:

1. Close all the EPE windows and/or Excel spreadsheets, including those for other projects
2. Confirm the name of the dll file name shown in the error message window
3. Go to \User\<your user folder>\AppData\Local\Temp
4. You should see a dllc file which has the same name of the dll file shown in the error message.
   For example, if the error message shows epe_14_0_28nm_B22_hid_32bit.dll, you should see epe_14_0_28nm_B22_hid_32bit.dllc in the folder.
5. Delete the above dllc file
6. Open the EPE

After opening the EPE, you should see both <file name>.dll and <file name>.dllc in the above temporary folder.

This behavior is not scheduled to be fixed in a future Quartus® software release.