Which Versions of C++ Redistributables Can Be Removed?

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I have a number of Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 and 2008 Redistributable and I would like to know which ones are safe to remove, because there are actually more than 10 installed on my computers.

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

It could be that these versions are all different, but a confirmation of that is fine for me as well. Thanks in advance.

PS. I'm using an x64 machine one windows 7.

Best Answer

You're better off not removing them. C++ Redistributables are installed by programs which depend on them. See this thread for a similar question.

Of the versions you have listed, each one could either be a patch (in which case you'd be removing bug fixes and features by removing it) or a new version (in which case you'd be removing a redistributable that a program depends on). In either case, removing it would be unwise unless you have some real need to do it.

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