I'm trying to run an older game on my Windows PC, but its Visual C++ Redistributable installer says a newer version is already installed. I can't find that newer version in my files to remove it, and the older runtime won't install. What's the correct way to resolve this without breaking other programs?
1 Answer
The Visual C++ Redistributable usually won’t appear as a normal file in your folders. Check Windows Settings under Apps > Installed apps, then search for entries named Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. Look for both the x86 and x64 versions. You can select the relevant entry and choose Modify or Repair. If the game is 32-bit, install or repair the x86 package even on 64-bit Windows.

I was checking my folders instead of the installed-apps list, so that explains why I couldn’t find it. I’ll check both the x86 and x64 entries and try Repair first.