How to Fix ‘error 0x80070666 when installing Microsoft Visual C++’ Issue – Guide
The vast majority of Windows applications are written in C++. You can find some apps written in C# or Java, but not many of them. C++ apps are much more common. However, for these applications to run, the Visual C++ Redistributable must be installed. Most systems have this installed. You may not remember installing it, but it was probably installed by an application that needed it. Several Windows users are encountering error “0x80070666” when trying to install Microsoft Visual C++, Lumberyard or a similar distribution package.
The error message is usually reported early in the installation process. This specific issue is not specific to any specific Windows version as it occurs on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.
Fix: Error 0x80070666 when installing Microsoft Visual C++
Uninstalling All Current Visual C ++ Redistributable Packages
Many users have reported that this particular issue mainly occurs if your computer already contains an older or newer version of the same distributable package you are trying to install. ..
- Open the command prompt and type “msconfig”
- In the “Microsoft Configuration Manager” window, expand the “Windows Components” node and click on the “Visual C++ Redist 2015” item.
- Click on the “Uninstall” button to uninstall the latest version of Visual C++ Redist 2015.
Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open up the programs and features screen.
Scroll down through the list of installed programs and locate all your Microsoft Visual C ++ Redist installations.
Right-click each Microsoft Visual C ++ Redist installation and choose Uninstall. Then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the uninstall of each redist package. ..
After uninstalling all Visual C++ packages, restart the computer and wait for the next boot to complete. ..
I tried to install the same Redist package that was failing earlier, but I got an error 0x80070666.
Running the Fix-It Tool
If you are experiencing an error code 0x80070666 when trying to install a new program, the Fix It tool may be able to help. This tool is available from Microsoft and can be used to repair various components (including corrupt registry keys) used while installing new programs. The guide below provides a quick overview of how to use this Fix It tool.
Fix It is a tool that can be used to fix common computer problems. It is available for free from this link. ..
After clicking Advanced, you will see a screen that looks like this: The next screen will ask you to select a fix to apply. You can either choose to apply the fix automatically or select one of the available fixes. If you choose to apply the fix automatically, Fix It will then start applying the fixes and you will be able to see the results in a few minutes. If you select one of the available fixes, Fix It will then start applying that fix and you will be able to see the results in a few minutes as well.
Installing the software will start automatically.
After the inspection phase completes, select which redist package you are having problems with and click Next.
Repair strategies are important to follow until you reach the final from the program. ..
If you have a problem installing the redist package on your computer after using the Fix It tool, restart your computer and see if you can install the redist package on the next boot without any problems.
Installing any pending Windows updates
If you are experiencing an error 0x80070666 when trying to install Windows updates, it may be because Windows Update is already preparing to install the same redist package. Several affected users have reported that when doing the required Windows update, the redist package that was previously failing with error 0x80070666 was installed automatically. If this is the case for you, here is a quick guide on how to install any pending Windows updates:
To check for updates and install them, click the Check for Updates button on the Windows Update tab. If you want to delay or stop an update from being installed, click the Change Settings button and then select one of the following options: • Install updates automatically (recommended): This will install all available updates, including those that are recommended but may not be necessary. • Download updates but don’t install them: This will download and install only the updates that are required. Updates that are not required will not be downloaded or installed. • Don’t check for updates: This will disable all automatic updating on this computer. ..
If you have any pending updates, Windows will prompt you to install them. Click OK to install the updates. ..
After all pending updates have been installed, restart your computer and see if the redist package is not yet installed. If not, try installing it and see if you still encounter the same error message.
Using Command Prompt to Repair Visual C++ Installation
A number of users reported that they suspected the Visual C ++ installation was corrupt, but had no way to repair it as the program did not appear in the Add or Remove Programs list. This usually happens with the Visual C ++ 2015 redistributable package.
- Open the command prompt and type “repair”
- The repair window will appear and you will be able to choose which program to repair.
- Choose “Windows 7” and the repair process will start automatically.
- After a few minutes, the repair process will finish and you will be able to access your computer again.
If you are trying to install a redistributable package, make sure the installer is present on your computer. If the installer is not present, download it again.
To open a Run dialog box, press Windows key + R. Then type “cmd” and press Enter.
cd Download
CD C: Users who have downloaded the software can access it through YourUser.
To uninstall an application, enter the name of the installation executable followed by /uninstall. ..
After clicking Repair, you will be taken to a screen that will show you how to repair your Visual C++ redist installation. You will need to follow the onscreen instructions to repair your Visual C++ redist installation.
Final note
If you are having trouble installing Microsoft Visual C++, you may have encountered an error code called “error 0x80070666.” This code can be caused by a number of things, but the most common cause is a problem with the installation process. To fix this issue, you will need to follow the steps in this guide.
