GUIDs for Visual Studio C++ Runtime Redistributables

Question

I am of a need of a table and/or listing the Visual Studio C/C++ redistribution GUIDs, My product installs the vcredist_x##.exe (not as its currently file named vc_redist.x##.exe in MSDN downloads) for historical reasons. Its become very confusing for version detection for distribution and installation and I can only try to make sense of it by using the GUIDs in our CD setups and Auto Update Program (AUP) using MsiQuery functions.

One problem I am finding is the current RTL 2015-2019 installs causing compatibility problems for customers still using XP/2003. The problem is is the setup for vs2015-2019 (or just vs2019) does not fail on XP/2003. It should not be able to install on a OS with XP/2003 especially when the WIN32 application is going to fail to load. Now we need to keep two distributions in the CD and automated updates to make sure the VS2017 is installed for XP/2003 and VS2019 for all the rest. In addition, in my technical opinion, the VS2019 install SHOULD NOT remove the VS2017 installation if its incompatible. In short, a small update to the VS2019 installer to FAIL on XP/2003 OSes would simplify the problem for the 3rd party development market.

PS: I was able to resolve the issue with a collection of installations guids across different setups on different machines. It would save a lot of time if Microsoft published the GUIDS for all RTL distribution files.

Answer 1

I had to search for this question. This is a new forum setup. Is this question, no longer associated with my email account which I logged in with, but under a different user name? Member since 2005, I had to search for this post, its not including in my threads:

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Profile/hector%20santos/activity

You can share the information and/or any ideas that comes with it to improve the VS product line yourself. It would be the 3rd party developer's pleasure if a more active person such as yourself would pass it along. Thanks.

Answer 2

Hi,
Welcome to share here!

It is also suggested to share your advice in the following link:
Windows server General Feedback
https://windowsserver.uservoice.com/forums/295047-general-feedback

Report a problem for Visual Studio and Visual Studio Installer
https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/report?space=8&entry=problem

Best Regards,