How to correctly install vc++ runtimes (x86 and x86)

[twoelfer]

Question

My installer needs to install the vc++ runtimes, but the 32bit and the 64bit version. I was thinking there might be a ready-made extension for these (because i think i was using one in the previous version of the installer, but that was years ago.) I did not find such a thing for the current version of wix. so i ended up with this in my bootstrapper application:

<Bundle ..... (bundle stuff)

<util:RegistrySearch Id="VCRedist_x86_Search" Root="HKLM"  Key="SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\VC\Runtimes\x86" Value="Installed" Result="exists" Variable="VCRedist_x86_Installed" />
<util:RegistrySearch Id="VCRedist_x64_Search" Root="HKLM"  Key="SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\VC\Runtimes\x64"  Value="Installed"  Result="exists"  Variable="VCRedist_x64_Installed" />

(other stuff)

	<Chain>
		<ExePackage Id="NetDesktopRuntime10_x64"
		            SourceFile="redist-files\windowsdesktop-runtime-10.0.3-win-x64.exe"
		            InstallArguments="/install /quiet /norestart"
		            PerMachine="yes"
		            Permanent="yes"
		            Compressed="yes"
						DetectCondition="NetRuntime10_Installed">
			<ExitCode Value="3010" Behavior="scheduleReboot" />
		</ExePackage>

		<ExePackage Id="VCRedist2026_x86"
		            SourceFile="redist-files\vc_redist.x86.exe"
		            InstallArguments="/install /quiet /norestart"
		            PerMachine="yes"
		            Permanent="yes"
		            Compressed="yes"
		            DetectCondition="VCRedist_x86_Installed">
			<ExitCode Value="3010" Behavior="scheduleReboot" />
		</ExePackage>

		<ExePackage Id="VCRedist2026_x64"
		            SourceFile="redist-files\vc_redist.x64.exe"
		            InstallArguments="/install /quiet /norestart"
		            PerMachine="yes"
		            Permanent="yes"
		            Compressed="yes"
		            DetectCondition="VCRedist_x64_Installed">
			<ExitCode Value="3010" Behavior="scheduleReboot" />
		</ExePackage>
		
		<MsiPackage SourceFile="$(var.msi_baustatik.TargetPath)" />
		<MsiPackage SourceFile="$(var.msi_updater.TargetPath)" />
		<MsiPackage SourceFile="$(var.msi_timewise.TargetPath)" />
		<MsiPackage SourceFile="$(var.msi_xfemily.TargetPath)" InstallCondition="InstallXfemilyOption"/>
	</Chain>

Basically, this works. However, the versions of the vc++ runtime that i ship are a little bit outdated. The current version is 14.51.something and i ship 14.50.something. Now, what i found is:

• if somehow has a newer (the current) version of the 64bit runtime installed, my installer works
• if the currenct version of the 32bit runtime is already installed, the installer fails with "another version is already installed".

i can't find any documentation how to do this correctly. Can anybody tell me how to do this or where to find any information regarind this? (does anybody know, why the 64bit version is working differently than the 32bit one?

Open Source Maintenance Fee

• I (or an organization I'm a member of) pay the Open Source Maintenance Fee by sponsoring the wixtoolset project because I support the maintainers.

[robmen]

Hmm, not exactly sure what's going on here, but you might try switching to BundlePackage instead of ExePackage as WiX knows how read the metadata of a Bundle and create all that metadata. I'd definitely start with that.

[twoelfer]

What I did was, i simply run those installers without any condition at all. They do check if the need to be run on their own and quit very fast if not, so this is not really a problem and make my life a lot easier. This is certainly not the cleanest way to do it and causes a short "blink" in installer status, but it allways works.

[petm2022]

I use the UpgradeCode to check if the vc++ runtimes are installed. I only install the 32bit version but have never heard of problems with the installation.

This will only install, if the version is older than $(VC_Redist_Version):

    <util:ProductSearch Id="VCREDIST_140_x86"
                        UpgradeCode="65E5BD06-6392-3027-8C26-853107D3CF1A"
                        Result="version"
                        Variable="VCREDIST_140_x86" />

    <PackageGroup Id="vc_redist_140_x86">
      <ExePackage Id="vc_redist_140_x86"
                  SourceFile="redist-files\vc_redist.x86.exe"
                  PerMachine="yes"
                  Permanent="yes"
                  Vital="yes"
                  Compressed="no"
                  Cache="remove"
                  InstallArguments="/install /quiet /norestart"
                  DetectCondition="(VCREDIST_140_x86 &gt;= v$(VC_Redist_Version))"
                  Protocol="burn"
                  >
      </ExePackage>
    </PackageGroup>

[twoelfer]

this: <BundlePackage SourceFile="redist-files\vc_redist.x86.exe" />

[petm2022]

Set Permanent="Yes", is will also be used for Visible that have the default value "no" and that is what hiding the ARP (Programs and Features aka Apps).
See https://docs.firegiant.com/wix/schema/wxs/bundlepackage/

[twoelfer]

Thank you.

[robmen]

@twoelfer Can you share a bit more of the code that got you this: warning WIX8506: The BundlePackage 'vc_redist.x86.exe' does not support hiding its ARP registration. ? I'm curious if there is more context we could use to provide a better message in that case.

[twoelfer]

@robmen Rob, of course I can. However i‘m in southern Italy without computer right now. I will post the code when I am back from holidays.