Avoid third-party DLL download sites, as they can bundle malware or outdated versions. The most secure way to obtain this file is directly from the official Microsoft Download Center. You can grab the security update using the Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update or the ATL Security Update .
October 26, 2023 Subject: Secure Acquisition, Version Specificity, and Deployment Stability for Legacy Runtimes
If an older game or program was released between 2008 and 2012, there is a very high probability it was built with Visual Studio 2008. As such, it depends specifically on the . Installing VC++ 2010 or 2022 will not resolve errors from an application that expects VC++ 2008 runtime components.
“Any random EXE from the internet is fine.” Fact: Many outdated or repacked versions miss manifests ( .manifest files), causing the dreaded “MSVCR90.dll not found” error.
For system administrators deploying the runtime to multiple computers, silent installation is required. The vcredist_x64.exe supports several command-line options:
The redistributable package installs runtime components of Visual C++ libraries that are not naturally included with Windows but are required by third-party software.
vcredist_x64.exe /q /norestart
| Property | Expected Value | |----------|----------------| | File name | vcredist_x64.exe | | Digital signature | Microsoft Corporation (valid) | | Typical file size | ~5.0–5.5 MB | | SHA-1 (example – verify via Microsoft) | 0F7B5DA0EFE70EBDBF1A2C39B7E1EF2F04DA4E1B (check live from MS) |
"The program can't start because MSVCR90.dll is missing from your computer."
Alternatively, if you run into persistent errors with individual packages, many users prefer installing an all-in-one (AIO) repackaged installer. These community-maintained packages install every single Visual C++ version from 2005 to the present day in one single executable, ensuring no runtimes are missing. To help me tailor this information, please let me know: What or code are you seeing? What game or software application are you trying to launch?
If you run into any hurdles with your installation, tell me: The or code you are seeing The name of the game or software you are trying to run Your current Windows OS version
The vcredist_x64.exe file is an installer developed by Microsoft. It deploys the runtime components of Visual C++ Libraries. These libraries are required to run applications developed with Visual C++ 2008 SP1 on a 64-bit operating system.
Downloading and installing the correct version of the VC Redist package is crucial for several reasons: