Installing WITHOUT C++ 2005 redistributable

[ITandCADguy]

Does anyone know if it is possible to install Autodesk products without the C++ 2005 redistributables?

I am not asking about the 1603 errors where the 2005 C++ is corrupt or cannot be installed.

Suppose that the Network Police have decided that the 2005 C++ is too much of a security risk and demanded that it be removed from all computers immediately, and further suppose that someone needs to run AutoCAD 2015.

Specifically, is there any registry hack, INI tweak, or MSI modification that would allow me to install 2015 release products without installing the 2005 C++, using the assumption that a newer release (2008 or later) of the C++ dll's are installed.

Optionally, what might be broken by installing AutoCAD based products with the 2005 C++ components and then uninstalling said C++ 2005 parts.  This might not go over so well with the Network Police, though.

[Otto]

Hello dyoung

It looks like you’re seeing Error 1603. Error 1603 is a generic error generated by the Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) when a problem occurred during the installation of your Autodesk product. The following article(s) should help you resolve the problem:

Error 1603 during installation of Autodesk software

Errors during AutoCAD software installation 

Here is some general information about installation, licensing and downloading Autodesk software:

AutoCAD 2012 installation fails on machine with NET 4.5

Previous Versions of Autodesk Software

Installation, Activation and Licensing

[ITandCADguy]

@Otto, I'm really hoping that you are a bot, because I specifically said I wasn't asking about the 1603 errors.

[Anonymous]

We are only bots here and do not read your requirements or needs.  We issue blank replies hoping that it will meet your needs.. 

If the application requires a given version of C++ than it has to be there.   You can modify the installation setup.ini to bypass the installation but I don't know what the impact is on the application if the required C++ stuff is not there.  I guess I would have to question why a network group would restrict such that required programs don't work.  Doesn't seem like a sound business practice..

[dgorsman]

"Otto the Bot doesn't have the Matrix of Leadership so don't expect the wisdom of Optimus Prime." 

The redistributables are like the wheels on your car - without them your programs aren't going anywhere.  It also means that software developers don't need to keep reinventing the wheel, as someone else has already provided them.

[GTVic]

AutoCAD 2015 doesn't use the 2005 C++ runtime's as far as I can see. But you can probably hack the main install INI file to not install C++ runtime.

; just an example, spelling might not be correct.

[VCREDIST2005x86]
EXE_PATH=(delete this part or replacing with something like notepad.exe might work as a quick and dirty hack)

[VCREDIST2005x64]
EXE_PATH=(delete)

or delete all other occurrences of VCREDIST2005x86 and VCREDIST2005x64, for example:

PREREQUISITE=ACAD_VISTA_BLOCK;IE;SSE2;DOTNET45;DOTNET45LANG;VCREDIST2005X86;VCREDIST2005X64;VCREDIST2010SP1X86;VCREDIST2010SP1X64;VCREDIST2012X86UPD4;VCREDIST2012X64UPD4;DIRECTX;MSXML6;WMF95X64;CM;CMILB;SNAP_PRE

Anyway, it could be that 2005 runtime is crucial for all of AutoCAD or it could be needed only for one thing. For example, everything works except the Desktop Appliction manager, or everything except eTransmit because eTransmit uses 2005 C++ runtime to create the ZIP file. I'm not saying that this is correct, just a possibility.

If you know what all the required runtime files are, then there is a chance that you could manually copy them to the same location as ACAD.EXE and then they are not "installed" but still could be used. This is called deploying to an application local folder.