Visual Studio 2015 runtime and MSI installer

If you are using the MSI installer to install either UrBackup Client or Server on Windows there is a potential problem you might run into.

Starting with Visual Studio 2015, with which UrBackup Client/Server 2.x are compiled, Microsoft decided to split the Visual Studio runtime into a operating system level component (Universal Runtime) and another “normal” runtime component, wheras earlier it was only a “normal” runtime component.
The operating system component is installed via Windows Update and cannot be installed by a MSI installer. With Windows 10 it is always installed, but with Windows Vista or 8.1 the system needs to be up to date in order for the system component to be present (KB2999226), otherwise UrBackup will not start.

Another work-around is to use the .EXE (NSIS) Installer which includes the operating system compontent. Installation depends on Windows Update functioning correctly (which it may not).

Let’s just say this change does not make the software developer’s and user’s life easier.