Upgrading or Repairing the Visual C++ Redistributable on Windows (Windows script)

Description

This article describes how to use the attached FileWave Fileset to install, update, or repair the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable on Windows devices. The Fileset downloads the latest supported Microsoft VC++ v14 Redistributable installers directly from Microsoft and runs them silently.

On 64-bit Windows, the script installs both the x64 and x86 redistributables because many 32-bit applications still depend on the x86 runtime. On 32-bit Windows, it installs only the x86 redistributable.

Ingredients

• FileWave Central or FileWave Anywhere: Required to import, assign, and deploy the Fileset to Windows devices.

• VC++ Redistributable Fileset: Download the Fileset using the link below.

Windows VC++ Redistributable

Directions

1. Import the Fileset:

   • Download the Fileset from the link above.

   • Import the Fileset into FileWave Central or FileWave Anywhere.

2. Review the script in the Fileset:

   • The Fileset contains the following PowerShell script. It checks whether Windows is 64-bit, builds the required installer list, downloads the redistributable installers from Microsoft, runs them silently, accepts success or success-with-reboot exit codes, and removes the temporary installer files.

     # Installs the latest supported Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.
     # On 64-bit Windows, this installs both x64 and x86 because many 32-bit apps still require the x86 runtime.
     # On 32-bit Windows, this installs only x86.
     
     $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
     
     Write-Output "Detected PowerShell process architecture: $env:PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE"
     Write-Output "Detected OS is 64-bit: $([Environment]::Is64BitOperatingSystem)"
     
     # Microsoft aka.ms/vc14 links point to the current supported Visual C++ v14 runtime installers.
     # "v14" is Microsoft's runtime family name for Visual Studio 2015 and later supported releases.
     $Installers = @()
     
     if ([Environment]::Is64BitOperatingSystem) {
         $Installers += @{
             Name = 'Visual C++ Redistributable x64'
             Url  = 'https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x64.exe'
             Path = Join-Path $env:TEMP 'vc_redist.x64.exe'
         }
     
         $Installers += @{
             Name = 'Visual C++ Redistributable x86'
             Url  = 'https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x86.exe'
             Path = Join-Path $env:TEMP 'vc_redist.x86.exe'
         }
     }
     else {
         $Installers += @{
             Name = 'Visual C++ Redistributable x86'
             Url  = 'https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x86.exe'
             Path = Join-Path $env:TEMP 'vc_redist.x86.exe'
         }
     }
     
     foreach ($Installer in $Installers) {
         Write-Output "Downloading $($Installer.Name) from $($Installer.Url)"
     
         Invoke-WebRequest `
             -Uri $Installer.Url `
             -OutFile $Installer.Path `
             -UseBasicParsing
     
         Write-Output "Installing $($Installer.Name)"
     
         $Process = Start-Process `
             -FilePath $Installer.Path `
             -ArgumentList '/install', '/quiet', '/norestart' `
             -Wait `
             -PassThru
     
         Write-Output "$($Installer.Name) installer exit code: $($Process.ExitCode)"
     
         # 0 = success
         # 3010 = success, reboot required
         if ($Process.ExitCode -notin @(0, 3010)) {
             throw "$($Installer.Name) failed with exit code $($Process.ExitCode)"
         }
     
         Remove-Item -Path $Installer.Path -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
     }
     
     Write-Output 'Visual C++ Redistributable installation completed successfully.'
     

3. Associate the Fileset:

   • Assign the Fileset to the Windows devices where the Visual C++ Redistributable needs to be installed, updated, or repaired.

Notes

• Microsoft permalink URLs: The script uses Microsoft-maintained aka.ms/vc14 download links for the current supported Visual C++ v14 runtime family. In Microsoft's naming, v14 refers to the Visual C++ runtime generation that started with Visual Studio 2015 and continues through later supported Visual Studio releases. It does not mean the Fileset installs only the original 2015/14.0 redistributable. The links redirect to Microsoft's latest supported installers for that runtime family.

• Architecture behavior: The script checks the operating system bitness, not only the PowerShell process architecture. This prevents a 32-bit PowerShell process running on 64-bit Windows from causing the wrong installer set to be used.

• Exit codes: The Microsoft installer exit code 0 is treated as success. Exit code 3010 is also treated as success, but it means Windows reports that a reboot is required.

• Silent installation: The script runs each installer with /install /quiet /norestart. It does not force a reboot, so handle any needed restart through your normal maintenance or deployment process.

• Network access: Devices must be able to reach Microsoft's aka.ms download URLs when the Fileset activates.

Related Content

• Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Documentation