How to run vcredist_x86 (of MSVC 2005 SP1) from a deployment project in MSVC 2008

Question

Hi,

I have an application which is developed in MSVC 2008 SP1. The project uses some DLLs that was developed on MSVC 2005 SP1, and therefore need the vcredist_x86.exe of MSVC 2005 SP1 to be installed. I also have a deployment project in MSVC 2008 that creates a simple and nice installer for the application. To make the application work on a target PC, I need to install the application itself, and the MSBC 2005 SP1 redist package.

I have tried several ways to bind the installation of the MSVC 2005 SP1 redist package with the application installation, and none of them succeeded:

1. Defining "Visual Studio Runtime Libraries (x86)" as a prerequist in the deployment project - The deployment project chose the MSVC 2008 SP1 as the redist package, instead of MSVC 2005 SP1.
2. Run vcredist_x86.exe (of MSVC 2005 SP1) as a "Custom Action" during "Install" or "Commit" phases - When installing the application, the installer program (Windows nstaller 3.1) could not run the vcredist_x86.exe file because it is a Windows Installer 3.1 file too, and it can't run a Windows Installer instance from antoher Windows Installer.
3. I did managed though to add the MSVC 2005 SP1 redist package to the preprequities list, but, this solution limits a future development of the project on another machine because to add the MSVC 2005 SP1 to the list needed to be done localy (add some files to a directory on C:\Program Files\....\BootStarapper\Packages\...).

I'm trying not to bother the user to much, and to ask him only to run setup.exe to install my application. I need to find a way to install the MSVC 2005 SP1 redist package by the deployment project. I hope some one could assist me with that :)

Thanks in advance for your answers :)

Itamar

Answer 1

Here is a simple approach.

Create an EXE or BAT file to run the vcredist_x86.exe and setup.exe one after another.

The real solution must be not to run vcredist_x86.exe from the setup.

Rather the dependent files must be included as part of setup.exe and must be installed.

I don't know whether this can be done using a setup project but I have used install shield and it has a feature of automatically scanning dependencies and adding them to the installation.

I believe you can do the same with a setup project also, but you may have to add them manually.

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«_Superman_»
Microsoft MVP (Visual C++)

Answer 2

Hi,

Thanks for the reply :)

The setup project can look for dependencies, but doesn't find them...

I guess I have no other way beside creating a little batch file.

Thanks again,

Itamar

Answer 3

If you can get hold of InstallShield, you can do a static as well as runtime scan for dependencies and add them automatically.

It is a great tool for creating setup.exe or MSIs.

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«_Superman_»
Microsoft MVP (Visual C++)

Answer 4

Hi Itamar,

You can use this code to perform a silent install:

vcredist_x86.exe /q:a

For more information, please refer to Aaron Stebner's blog with following link:

Mailbag: How to perform a silent install of the Visual C++ 8.0 runtime files (vcredist) packages

Best Regards,
Nancy

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