MS Visual C++ redistributable - application log & restore

philart · 28 Dec 2016

Hi,

I helped someone with her PC and to my surprise although we're both running Win10, she had:
MS Visual C++ redistributable version 2005,2008,2010,2012, 2013 and each time the 64bits and 32bits version.

This eventhought, she had less apps than I, and all the apps she has I have.

So my questions are:
1/ is there a system log which reveals which apps are using some MS Visual C++ redistributable?

2/ Can I create a system restoration and delete at least version older than 2010 and in case an app would not properly work, restore the system?

Thanks

dalchina · 28 Dec 2016

Hi, Summary answer:
Is it Okay to Uninstall 'Extra' Versions of Microsoft Visual C++? | PCWorld

1. Apps- in comparing the number of apps, are you referring to universal apps, traditional exe desktop programs, or both?
2. Log? Not that I know of.
You can (or at least could) evaluate the dependencies of a particular program:
Understanding the Dependencies of a Visual C++ Application
Dependency Walker (depends.exe) Home Page
3. Restoration
We strongly recommend the routine use of disk imaging for system and data recovery, e.g. Macrium Reflect (free).
You can restore an image of your OS disk/partition after any experimentation you care to perform and have your PC back as it was.
But if you simply wish to try uninstalling versions of Visual C++ runtime, and find you need them again, you could simply reinstall them.

You can read more easily by searching for
which programs need visual C++