Create a folder structure on the development computer that matches the folder structure to be used on the target computer. For this example, create a \bin folder and copy myapplication.exe there. Then create a \bin\mylibrary folder and copy MyLibrary.dll there.

Copy this folder to the target computer.

Copy Visual C++ Redistributable Package (vcredist_x86.exe) from %PROGDIR%\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SDK\v2.0\Bootstrapper\Packages\vcredist_x86\vcredist_x86.exe to the target computer

Note
For applications built in Visual C++ Express, it is recommended to redistribute Visual C++ libraries using the Visual C++ Redistributable Package (vcredist_x86.exe). Visual C++ Express does not install this package; however, it can be downloaded from Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x86).

Run vcredist_x86.exe on the target computer.This installs all Visual C++ libraries as shared assemblies. On a target computer with support for manifest-based binding of applications to their dependencies (Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista), the libraries are installed in the WinSxS folder. On a computer without such support (Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000), the libraries are installed to both the WinSxS and System32 folders.

Note
For deploying 64-bit applications to 64-bit operating systems, use vcredist_x64.exe or vcredist_ia64.exe. These packages can also be downloaded from Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x64) and Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (ia64)

Note
vcredist_*.exe installs only the release versions of Visual C++ DLLs. Debug versions should only be deployed as private assemblies; see the next procedure for more details.

Your application is ready to be run.

Create a folder structure on the development computer that matches the folder structure to be used on the target computer. For this example, create a \bin folder and copy myapplication.exe there. Then create a \bin\mylibrary folder and copy MyLibrary.dll there.

On the development computer, from %PROGDIR%\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\Redist\x86, copy Microsoft.VC80.CRT and Microsoft.VC80.MFC to \bin and to \bin\MyLibrary.

Note
Visual C++ Express does not create %PROGDIR%\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\Redist\ during installation on the development computer. To redistribute Visual C++ libraries with applications built with Visual C++ Express, please use Visual C++ Redistributable Packages (VCRedist_*.exe). See section "Deploying Visual C++ library DLLs as shared assemblies" above for more information.

Note
For deploying 64-bit applications to 64-bit operating systems, use \vc\redist\amd64 or \vc\redist\ia64.

Copy the \bin folder to the target computer. On a target computer with manifest-based binding support (Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista) no further preparation is necessary. On a computer without such support (Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000), Microsoft.VC80.CRT and Microsoft.VC80.MFC must be on the path.

Note
For debug applications, use debug DLLs from \vc\redist\debug_nonredist\. However, remote debugging may not work for an application that deploys debug versions of Visual C++ libraries as private assemblies. For more information, see Preparing a Test Machine To Run a Debug Executable.

Note
If you want to do remote debugging on the target machine, you must copy over the debug DLLs or follow the procedure to install debug DLLs in Preparing a Test Machine To Run a Debug Executable.