C++ build tools without layout ?

Question

So I already have an installation layout but want to reinstall my system and later maybe install the buildtools also on another computer that is offline. I built a layout and installed MicroSoft C++ build tools with other workloads with the offline installation and it works after creating a layout. But now I want to save the offline installation that I have and run commands with the Vs_Setup on the already downloaded workloads with C++ buildtoos but it does not work, it launches the Vs_setup and says it does not have an internet connection to download the Workloads, but the workloads are already there in the folder. I also tried downloading an archived workloads from the internet with all the workloads and Vs_Setup but it does not work, nor with the workloads I downloaded from microsoft or from other places.

If I have internet It works I build a new layout and then I can run the installer offline, but if I uninstall but keep the files ,the workloads along with Vs_setup in the folder and try to install again offline it does not work.

I use in my command prompt with command prompt ran "as administrator"
.....vs19_buildtools\vs_setup.exe --noweb --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.ManagedDesktopBuildTools --add

At this point it just launches the window with VS setup and then waits a while and says no internet connection.
So once the layout is gone even if I have the files and vs_setup it does not work.

How can you even install on another computer that is meant to be cut off the internet for example, and each time to install the layout again when the files are there in the folder where I downloaded everything when I created the layout.

Is there a way to create a layout without internet connection, recreate it so it knows about the files in the folder ?
So I tried uninstalling Build Tools, then I changed the name of the folder where the tools were(workloads) with vs_Setup.exe , so I'm talking about the workload folder with offline installation and I tried installing from command
\vs19_buildtools\vs_setup.exe --noweb --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.ManagedDesktopBuildTools --add

It does not work, I did this before reinstalling my operating system because I wanted to know if it works with the old files that I have but without a layout.

Can I somehow create a layout offline, So it's the same folder that was created from the layout but it no longer works if for example I change the directory name, I did this to see if reinstalling my operating system if it will still work as in the layout is gone and now but I still have the same folder with everything in there. Is there some form I can install the workloads since they are all there, but without internet.

I really want to work offline maybe on a computer that is without internet and not download huge workloads each time I reinstall the OP.

I do not want Visual Studio , just the C++ build tools with MSVC compiler and workloads for the build system if this would be problematic.

Answer 1

Hi @Curly Dan ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

You must have an internet connection to create a local layout.
Please refer to: Create an offline installation of Visual Studio.

Sincerely,
Anna
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