How to: Deploy using XCopy

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 %WindowsSdkDir%\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++ 2008 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++ 2008 Redistributable Package (x64) and Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 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.

Note:
Running vcredist_x86.exe on Windows Vista requires elevation.

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 9.0\VC\Redist\x86, copy Microsoft.VC90.CRT and Microsoft.VC90.MFC to \bin and to \bin\MyLibrary.

Note:
Visual C++ Express does not create %PROGDIR%\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\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.VC90.CRT and Microsoft.VC90.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.