How to correctly install vc++ runtimes (x86 and x86)

[twoelfer]

Question

My installer needs to install the vc++ runtimes, but the 32bit and the 64bit version. I was thinking there might be a ready-made extension for these (because i think i was using one in the previous version of the installer, but that was years ago.) I did not find such a thing for the current version of wix. so i ended up with this in my bootstrapper application:

<Bundle ..... (bundle stuff)

<util:RegistrySearch Id="VCRedist_x86_Search" Root="HKLM"  Key="SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\VC\Runtimes\x86" Value="Installed" Result="exists" Variable="VCRedist_x86_Installed" />
<util:RegistrySearch Id="VCRedist_x64_Search" Root="HKLM"  Key="SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\VC\Runtimes\x64"  Value="Installed"  Result="exists"  Variable="VCRedist_x64_Installed" />

(other stuff)

	<Chain>
		<ExePackage Id="NetDesktopRuntime10_x64"
		            SourceFile="redist-files\windowsdesktop-runtime-10.0.3-win-x64.exe"
		            InstallArguments="/install /quiet /norestart"
		            PerMachine="yes"
		            Permanent="yes"
		            Compressed="yes"
						DetectCondition="NetRuntime10_Installed">
			<ExitCode Value="3010" Behavior="scheduleReboot" />
		</ExePackage>

		<ExePackage Id="VCRedist2026_x86"
		            SourceFile="redist-files\vc_redist.x86.exe"
		            InstallArguments="/install /quiet /norestart"
		            PerMachine="yes"
		            Permanent="yes"
		            Compressed="yes"
		            DetectCondition="VCRedist_x86_Installed">
			<ExitCode Value="3010" Behavior="scheduleReboot" />
		</ExePackage>

		<ExePackage Id="VCRedist2026_x64"
		            SourceFile="redist-files\vc_redist.x64.exe"
		            InstallArguments="/install /quiet /norestart"
		            PerMachine="yes"
		            Permanent="yes"
		            Compressed="yes"
		            DetectCondition="VCRedist_x64_Installed">
			<ExitCode Value="3010" Behavior="scheduleReboot" />
		</ExePackage>
		
		<MsiPackage SourceFile="$(var.msi_baustatik.TargetPath)" />
		<MsiPackage SourceFile="$(var.msi_updater.TargetPath)" />
		<MsiPackage SourceFile="$(var.msi_timewise.TargetPath)" />
		<MsiPackage SourceFile="$(var.msi_xfemily.TargetPath)" InstallCondition="InstallXfemilyOption"/>
	</Chain>

Basically, this works. However, the versions of the vc++ runtime that i ship are a little bit outdated. The current version is 14.51.something and i ship 14.50.something. Now, what i found is:

• if somehow has a newer (the current) version of the 64bit runtime installed, my installer works
• if the currenct version of the 32bit runtime is already installed, the installer fails with "another version is already installed".

i can't find any documentation how to do this correctly. Can anybody tell me how to do this or where to find any information regarind this? (does anybody know, why the 64bit version is working differently than the 32bit one?

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