How to download Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable Package (32-64 bit)

Visual C++ redistributables are used by programmers or application developers who use Visual C++ to write their software.While writing software using Microsoft Visual C++, it requires some 'standard libraries' these are called 'Dynamic Link Libraries'.These 'Dynamic Link Libraries(Dll)' are nothing but set of pre-written software provided by Visual C++ for application programmers to use them.

The Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable Package used to installs runtime components of Visual C++ Libraries required to run applications developed with Visual C++ on a computer that does not have Visual C++ installed.

If you install number of applications, you will find a list of Visual C++ redistributables. If you remove them the programs that used them might crash.Microsoft releases time to time security update for the redistributables, but on the basis of programmer and application demands Microsoft Visual C++ redistributables do not throw out each other, that's why old versions are kept for compatibility.

There is possibility of Multiple versions of Visual C++ redistributables can be required by same app, for example if an application requires Visual C++ 2005 redistributable and also uses a component depending on Visual C++ 2008 redistributable, in this case developer must use both versions of Visual C++ redistributables.If a computer have 64 bit OS then the system must uses both x86 and x64 editions of Visual C++ redistributables.So Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable is a common used component.

Q. Which versions of C++ redistributables can I remove?
I  have so many Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 and 2008 Redistributable in my system, and I want to know that which one I can remove safly.

1. Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 ATL Update kb973924 - x64 9.0.30729.4148
2. Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable
3. Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x64 Runtime - 10.0.30319
4. Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 (x64)
5. Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.17
6. Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.17
7. Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.4974
8. Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.4148
9. Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 ATL Update kb973923 - x64 8.0.50727.4053

Answer:  Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables are used and installed by those programs or application which are depend on MSVC dynamic link library (dll).If you remove them the programs that used them might crash.So, I recommend you keep them.


Q. Are old Microsoft Visual C++ 2005/2008 Redistributables safe to remove?
Should I remove Visual C++Redistributable 2005 if I install newer version?

Answer:  It is not safe to remove them because many programs are still depend on them.Programs are written in specific version of the C++ runtime.Suppose an application built to use the 2008 runtime, that will use only that runtime and will not work with the 2005 or 2010 runtime.To remove any runtime will led to stop the work of that program.