visual c++ - How to detect VC++ 2008 redistributable?

Question

Is there a Registry setting that I can look for to determine whether or not the Visual C++ redistributable is installed, whether standalone or as part of Visual Studio 2008? I know that I could launch the VC++ 2008 redistributable installer and let it handle the detection, but it would look cleaner if I can check for it and not bother launching the installer if the redistributable is already on the system.

It's no biggie if there is no setting to search for, as this is just for the preliminary installers that we have for the new version of our software. We won't need it for the new Windows Installer-based installers that we are working on that will replace the old tech ones and will use the merge modules.

Answer 1

I don't think any of those solution can help when your using different OS ! For ex, MsiQueryProductState will always returned -1 using Vista VC8.0

while -1 for VC8.0/8.0 SP1/9.0 with Windows 7 ! So the GUID solution that microsoft provided, doesn't work in all cases

so i guess i'm forced to stuck with the %windir%winsxs approach and search for

• x86_Microsoft.VC80.CRT*
• x86_Microsoft.VC90.CRT*

For those who are looking for all GUIDs, Here is a list i created:

Visual C++ 2005 runtime files

* VC 8.0 (x86) - {A49F249F-0C91-497F-86DF-B2585E8E76B7}
* VC 8.0 (x64) - {6E8E85E8-CE4B-4FF5-91F7-04999C9FAE6A}
* VC 8.0 (ia64) - {03ED71EA-F531-4927-AABD-1C31BCE8E187}

Visual C++ 2005 SP1 runtime files

* VC 8.0 SP1 (x86) - {7299052B-02A4-4627-81F2-1818DA5D550D}
* VC 8.0 SP1 (x64) - {071C9B48-7C32-4621-A0AC-3F809523288F}
* VC 8.0 SP1 (ia64) - {0F8FB34E-675E-42ED-850B-29D98C2ECE08}

Visual C++ 2005 SP1 ATL Security Update runtime files

* VC 8.0 SP1 ATL Patch (x86) - {837B34E3-7C30-493C-8F6A-2B0F04E2912C}
* VC 8.0 SP1 ATL Patch (x64) - {6CE5BAE9-D3CA-4B99-891A-1DC6C118A5FC}
* VC 8.0 SP1 ATL Patch (ia64) - {85025851-A784-46D8-950D-05CB3CA43A13}

Visual C++ 2008 runtime files

* VC 9.0 (x86) - {FF66E9F6-83E7-3A3E-AF14-8DE9A809A6A4}
* VC 9.0 (x64) - {350AA351-21FA-3270-8B7A-835434E766AD}
* VC 9.0 (ia64) - {2B547B43-DB50-3139-9EBE-37D419E0F5FA} 

Visual C++ 2008 SP1 runtime files

* VC 9.0 SP1 (x86) - {9A25302D-30C0-39D9-BD6F-21E6EC160475}
* VC 9.0 SP1 (x64) - {8220EEFE-38CD-377E-8595-13398D740ACE}
* VC 9.0 SP1 (ia64) - {5827ECE1-AEB0-328E-B813-6FC68622C1F9}

Visual C++ 2008 SP1 ATL Security Update runtime files

* VC 9.0 SP1 ATL (x86) - {1F1C2DFC-2D24-3E06-BCB8-725134ADF989}
* VC 9.0 SP1 ATL (x64) - {4B6C7001-C7D6-3710-913E-5BC23FCE91E6}
* VC 9.0 SP1 ATL (ia64) - {977AD349-C2A8-39DD-9273-285C08987C7B}