How to Only Install Supported Versions of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable With NI-DMM, NI-SCOPE or NI-SWITCH

Issue Details

As of early 2024, many Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables are not supported by Microsoft anymore, or their lifecycle is about to end. In certain cases, NI installers might install multiple versions of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables, including versions I don’t want to install.

When installing NI-DMM, NI-SCOPE or NI-SWITCH, how can I make sure I only install versions of the Visual C++ Redistributable still supported by Microsoft?

Solution

As of 2024, the package most installed with NI software, tools and drivers is ni-msvcrt-2015, which contains the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable. This redistributable is well within Microsoft’s support range.

Still, in some cases – to ensure downwards compatibility – NI offers installers for older versions of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.

NI-DMM, NI-SCOPE or NI-SWITCH might install ni-msvcrt-2010-redist-msms if you check support for .NET Framework 4.0 or 4.5 Languages during installation.

If you want to make sure you do only install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable when installing NI-DMM, NI-SCOPE or NI-SWITCH, follow these steps:

In NI Package Manager, go to the Browse Products Page. In the search field, search for NI-SWITCH, NI-DMM or NI-SCOPE. Choose a version. Only choose one the following versions:
 

NI-DMM	2022 Q3 or newer
NI-SCOPE	2022 Q3 or newer
NI-SWITCH	2022 Q4 or newer

Click INSTALL.


A pop-up window titled Installing NI-SWITCH opens. In there, you can choose Additional items you may wish to install. Deselect the following entries:

• NI-SWITCH .NET Language Runtime for .NET Framework 4.0
• NI-SWITCH .NET Language Runtime for .NET Framework 4.5
• NI-SWITCH Support for .NET Framework 4.0 Languages
• NI-SWITCH Support for .NET Framework 4.5 Languages

Choose Next. Go through the following steps of the installation as usual (you don’t have to make any more changes).
 

Additional Information

After going through these steps, your installation will only contain the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable. If you want to double-check, in NI Package Manager you can switch to the INSTALLED tab. In the search field, write msvcrt. NI Package Manager will list all Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables installed on your system by NI products.