[CMake] InstallRequiredSystemLibraries.cmake and Redistribution of the shared C runtime component in Visual C++

[Bill Hoffman]

James Bigler wrote:
> I've just been bitten hard by this issue (many hours of frustration 
> while attempting to run a demo application that should have "Just 
> Worked" (TM) ).
> 
> According to this page:
> 
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326922
> 
> 
> "You should install these versions of the CRT on target computers by 
> running the Vcredist_x86.exe application that is included with Visual 
> Studio."  This is for the VS 2005 and 2008 versions of the C run-time 
> libraries except for Windows 2000 in which case you need to install them 
> in the system32 directory.
> 
> I was dropping Msvcr80.dll and friends as per 
> InstallRequiredSystemLibraries next to the binaries with ineffectual 
> results.  It was really strange, because programs like Dependency Walker 
> seemed to find them just fine.  It was only after running 
> vcredist_x86.exe that I was able to run my programs properly.
> 
> I though I should tell everyone that this method of distributing 
> Msvcr80.dll and Msvcr90.dll next to your binaries is not supposed to 
> work.  You must install them into the Windows Side by Side location 
> (WinSxS) using the CRT.msm merge module or the vcredist_x86.exe that 
> comes with Visual Studio.
> 
> Now to try and get CPack to tell NSIS run the vcredist_x86.exe program 
> during installation.
> 
> Note, that many people might get lucky and have already installed a 
> product that installed the right vcredist_x86.exe before installing your 
> software.
> 

No this works fine.... However you may be running into this issue:

"
Visual Studio 9 SP 1 has a bug that will cause trouble with cpack.


You can read about it here:

https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=361682


Basically, when you compile an executable or dll with VS9 SP1 it embeds
manifest information into the the exe or dll that does not match the
version information in the manifest files that SP 1 provides for
redistribution.
"

We use the InstallRequiredSystemLibraries all the time without requiring 
vcredist_x86.exe to be run.

-Bill