Home/ Questions/Q 3395036
In Process

The Archive Base Latest Questions

Editorial Team
  • 0
Asked: 2026-05-18T04:14:31+00:00

What Visual C++ Runtimes are users likely to have installed? Update: This question has

  • 0

What Visual C++ Runtimes are users likely to have installed?

Update: This question has become more of a “What is the best way to deploy internet based applications, written in C++. That require the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime.”

Share

Leave an answer

You must login to add an answer.

Need An Account,

1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    This answer is important because of the needs of internet deployment of C++ based applications.

    I have found the following:

    • No fresh Windows installation comes any C++ runtime (except msvcrt.dll)
    • Windows XP and higher ship with .NET framework runtimes (which is not suitable)
    • The C++ runtime redistributables are small downloads (1-4MB apiece)
    • Automatic update does not install any C++ runtimes.
    • When a runtime is installed. Windows handles security patches as long as Microsoft Update is enabled and it is deployed using the redistributable installer.
    • Internet Deployment: Your installer (statically linked) should detect the presence of the runtime and download if not already installed. You can also use the gcc-mingw32 compiler which uses the VC 6 runtime. An internet connection is required for this approach.
    • Most major apps do not appear to statically link. But some, like Mozilla Firefox distribute custom runtimes as a DLL.

    Microsoft should start including the C++ runtimes with their OSes like they do for .NET

    • 0