How to solve VS15 install problem with redistributable installations

Question

I am trying to install VS15 on Windows10. The install is OK right up to the end, then it reports that it can't finish because there are previous versions of the MVC redistributables (x86 and x64) that are blocking completion, it instructs me to uninstall them from the control panel then rerun the installer. I do this, but when I get to the end of the install the same message repeats. I've tried twice, same thing. I then uninstalled and started again, with the same problem.

It appears that despite this the environment is functional, however the installation detritus hasn't been cleaned up, I don't want to leave the system in this state.

I've done all the reading around I can find, this problem doesn't show. Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi @bruce varley, 

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A! 

Is there a hint on which version of VC++ to uninstall? If possible, please share us the screenshot to investigate it further. 

If you want to find the specific version of VC++ that is blocking the VS2015 installation, you need to open the %temp% folder and find the relevant installation logs file (like dd_vcredist_xxxx.log). 

You can uninstall all the Visual C++ Redistributable items in Programs and Features and retry the VS2015 installation. 

Furthermore, you can try to use the troubleshooter tool to uninstall the VC++ Redistributable. 

Sincerely,

Anna

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Answer 2

Hello,  Apologies for not having stayed on top of this, but other priorities have intervened.

 

I encountered persistent problems with my VS-15 install, all appearing as a message something like “This installation could not be completed because existing versions of the C++ redistributables were found. Restart to continue” (not clear whether restart the installer or the machine). I even retried from go following a complete cleanout of the SSD, uninstalling all existing applications on the machine and leaving essentially only the OS. Prior to starting the reinstall, I checked and there were still a few C++ redistributables installed for some reason, and I got the same unable-to-complete message at the completion of the install.

More than once, I tried the repair option, it made no difference. However, I’ve recently found that despite the lack of completion, the application does appear to be there, I can create and build a simple MFC application, so maybe the redistribution message is not something to worry about.  

I’m an amateur with limited knowledge depth in Windows, and the option of going in deep with this forum to hunt down the cause doesn’t appeal. I’d only make the point that if in fact this redistributable thing is benign, then the installer might want to point this out. Also, is the way that redistributables are managed something that could be improved?

There may be log files and the like still around on the system from the latest installation, if someone can point me to them I’m happy to post here. However, surely this problem is well known already – although interestingly it doesn’t seem to feature in forums and other websites on VS install problems.

Regarding the suggestion to uninstall the redistributables, I am reticent to do this given that other applications most likely rely on them. For someone like me it could easily make my situation much worse. 

Given that I appear to have a workable instance on my machine despite it all, this topic could be considered closed.

Thanks for various comments.