how to fix the Microsoft visual C ++ runtime problem

Question

once i try and open a game on steam it comes up with this problem and once i click the x it closes the game it does it for most

Answer 1

Hi,

Please uninstall all Visual C++ packages.

Start Menu > Settings > Apps > Installed Apps >

After uninstalling, open the Command Prompt (as administrator) and run the following commands: sfc /scannow and dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth. Wait for the process to complete, then restart your computer.

Launch the game via Steam; it will automatically handle the reinstallation of the Visual C++ packages.

Thanks

Answer 2

Remove the broken Visual C++ Windows Installer entry first, because the missing vc_runtimeMinimum_x64.msi cache prevents an ordinary repair or reinstall from completing.

1. Clean up the broken installer entry

Since reinstalling the redistributables and the games did not help, do not keep pointing the dialog to random folders or downloaded MSI files.

1. Close Steam and all games.
2. Download Microsoft’s Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter: MicrosoftProgram_Install_and_Uninstall.meta.diagcab
3. Open the downloaded file and select Uninstalling.
4. Select the entry named similarly to:
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64)
   • Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 X64 Minimum Runtime
5. Allow the troubleshooter to remove or repair the invalid installer registration.
6. Repeat for the corresponding x86 entry if it also cannot be repaired or removed.
7. Restart Windows.

This tool is intended to correct incomplete uninstall information and corrupted installer registry data. A matching vc_runtimeMinimum_x64.msi failure is documented as an inaccessible package in the Windows Installer cache; Microsoft’s supported resolutions are to remove the affected old runtime through Windows Installer or reinstall that exact old version long enough to uninstall it cleanly.^1^

2. Install clean Microsoft runtime packages

After cleanup, install both packages—even on 64-bit Windows—because 32-bit games require the x86 runtime while 64-bit games require x64.^2^

1. Download the official current packages:
   • x64: https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x64.exe
   • x86: https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x86.exe
2. Right-click each downloaded file and select Run as administrator.
3. Complete both installations and restart Windows.
4. Start Steam and test a game.

Microsoft recommends the latest v14 Redistributable for applications built with Visual Studio 2017 and later.^3^

If cleanup cannot identify the entry

Collect the installer logs to determine the exact old runtime version:

1. Download and run Microsoft’s Visual Studio and .NET Log Collection Tool from https://aka.ms/vscollect.
2. Extract %TEMP%\vscollect.zip.
3. In its Temp folder, open files beginning with:
   • dd_vcredist_x64_
   • dd_vcredist_x86_
4. Search for vc_runtimeMinimum_x64.msi, 1714, 1612, Source is invalid, or Package Cache.
5. Note the runtime version shown in the same section.

Download that exact older VC Redist version only from Microsoft, run it to remove the damaged version, and then install the current x64 and x86 packages above. Do not use third-party “all-in-one” runtime packs or download individual DLL/MSI files; Microsoft specifically warns to use only Microsoft-hosted and Microsoft-signed redistributable installers.^1^

Avoid deleting C:\ProgramData\Package Cache or manually removing installer registry keys. Those actions can break repair and removal for other installed programs.

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References

1. Troubleshoot Visual C++ Redistributable installation problems
2. Determine which DLLs to redistribute
3. Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable latest supported downloads