: Removing specific registry keys or temporary files that might cause a "Setup Failed" or "Installation Ended Prematurely" error. Common Issues and Errors
For a short period, the file also appeared in the (November 2012), which contained various Visual Studio 2012 components.
For Visual Studio 2012, Microsoft also suggests deleting the and letting the bootstrapper recreate it. vs-preclean-vs.exe
Corruption in the underlying C++ components often triggers pre-clean failures. Control Panel Programs and Features Locate all Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable entries (especially 2012–2015 versions). Select each one and click 2. Clear the Package Cache If the file itself is corrupted within the cache: Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Package Cache (Optional) Back up this folder to an external drive. Delete the contents of the folder. This may force the Visual Studio Bootstrapper to re-download components during the next setup attempt. 3. Use the Visual Studio Install Cleanup Tool
Is the file , or did your antivirus flag it ? : Removing specific registry keys or temporary files
These arguments indicate which edition of Visual Studio is being installed ( /ultimate ) and trigger the cleaning action ( /install ), while generating a detailed log for troubleshooting.
The file itself is entirely and legitimate if it belongs to your official Avast or AVG installation. However, malware authors frequently name malicious files after legitimate system processes to evade detection. Red Flags That Indicate Malware Corruption in the underlying C++ components often triggers
: It prepares your operating system for a Visual Studio installation or update.
Open the folder corresponding to your version (e.g., 17.0_xxxx ). Delete the folder. Restart Visual Studio. Step 3: Repair the Visual Studio Installation
Sometimes corrupted cached installer data forces the pre-clean tool into an infinite loop. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Type %temp% and hit .
Click the button (three horizontal lines or a dropdown menu).