Microsoft Visual c++ OVERLOAD

[DeathMetalJedi]

So, is it bad that I have like 18 different MC Visual C++ or will this cause any problems at all

[Azza ☠]

Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages are normally installed for games which require them to run. It's actually recommended in most case to have quite a few of them.

When a game (even on steam) runs for the first time, it might install one of them. However, there's different year version, some older games still use the previous years.

If you have 64 bit - you'll even get double.

So to have a stable gaming system on 64 bit, you install/work from old to new and might have:

Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (32 bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (64 bit)

Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable (32 bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable (64 bit)

Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable (32 bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable (64 bit)

Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (32 bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (64 bit)

This is entirely normal to have them all installed. Games will work only with the latest version they can support, so don't remove older version else those old games might stop working. For example the game Skyrim I believe uses version 2008. Also, quite a few games are only created in 32 bit, even if running on 64 bit Operating Systems, so ensure to have both as well if using 64 bit. If 32 bit OS, you shouldn't have any 64 bit version installed.

[DeathMetalJedi]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages are normally installed for games which require them to run. It's actually recommended in most case to have quite a few of them.

When a game (even on steam) runs for the first time, it might install one of them. However, there's different year version, some older games still use the previous years.

If you have 64 bit - you'll even get double.

So to have a stable gaming system on 64 bit, you install/work from old to new and might have:

Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (32 bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (64 bit)

Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable (32 bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable (64 bit)

Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable (32 bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable (64 bit)

Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (32 bit)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (64 bit)

This is entirely normal to have them all installed. Games will work only with the latest version they can support, so don't remove older version else those old games might stop working. For example the game Skyrim I believe uses version 2008. Also, quite a few games are only created in 32 bit, even if running on 64 bit Operating Systems, so ensure to have both as well if using 64 bit. If 32 bit OS, you shouldn't have any 64 bit version installed.

Guess I shouldn't have un-installed all of them and re-installed the newest version :/ Oh well I guess they'll re-install when they're needed. Thanks for the reply.

[TeKraken]

If you need to reinstall any of them because a game wont work they are usually found in the games folder in your steam folder.

[Beefy Gaming]

Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (64 bit) will not download help

[Alexalmighty]

i have like 16 of them it isnt bad to have them

[peklas]

Any leads on how to install them properly? While I have most of them installed (2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and both 32 and 64 bit versions), a lot of my steam games that rely on 2010-year version always run the first time installation as if my pc was lacking the software.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

No it's not too much; they each act as a seperate "Runtime Library"; much like DirectX or .NET Framework does.

Most apps, drivers, games require Visual C++ Runtimes in order to run their base code.

Overall it is not un-common to have any or all of the following installed at the same time.

Microsoft Visual C++ ~ 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015; both x86 and x64 versions of each build (if 64bit OS)

And the whole work from old to new is BS with regards to Visual C++; they are each (even when u have 2005 x86 and 2005 x64) a completely separate library and work independent of one another.

It is also not un-common to run into some sort of a corruption issue with one or more of these along the way as a typical WinOS user. In such a case best bet is going to each one, click Uninstall then when the Microsoft Visual C++ popup appears, click Repair. After the repair(s) complete, reboot the system. Then try the app again that use that library. If u continue to get a Visual C++ related error or fault, then uninstall the associated version(s), then re-download them from Microsoft and re-install them as needed.

and can all be found here:
2005 - 2013 builds > https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2977003
2015 build > https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145
and so as not to confuse, for Runtime/Plugin purposes all you need are the ones that include the name "Redistributable Package" for each version.

You can in fact uninstall and reinstall all of them as needed, without rebooting your OS/Machine is most situations. But also if u do need to install or re-install them, when all finished be sure to reboot, then do a manual "Check for Updates" via Windows Updates; as their will usually be further small hotfix updates to those from Microsoft. But those only appear from WU when Visual C++ is present on the system.

[The Muppet Surgery Special]

MFC / ATL is COM based and the interface is versioned so the latest should be enough, usually for COM, however non COM and C++ redistributables are not, so the API may vary across versions (The well known DLL hell). However Windows now installs to Windows SxS (Side by Side) with versioning metadata to wrap the DLL's to prevent DLL hell.

You will need to match the version with the application dependancy. Having them does not harm, not having them will prevent dependant applications working.

[geniusthemaster]

i will tell you all a big secret. only install the 64 bit ALWAYS. the 86 and 64 bit drivers COMPETE and actually slow it down much worse after about 3 days. u will also see emmediate gains with just 64 bit over both installed

[Cathulhu]

That big secret is complete nonsense and potentially harmful, as in apps that require the 32Bit version will stop working.

[Steven]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.