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Which versions of C++ redistributables can I remove?

Over time, I notice that my Windows computer is accruing more and more Redistributables. Screenshot:

Screenshot

In general, is it safe to remove old 2005 versions? Is it safe to also remove old 2008 versions?

Specs:

systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version" OS Name: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional OS Version: 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601

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  • Many of those are very small files. What are you concerned about? Do you have any tools that use these redistributables?
    – user3463
    Oct 28, 2012 at 20:24

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It is most likely not safe to delete them because applications may still be using them. Applications are written against a specific version of the C++ runtime. An application build using the 2005 runtime will use only that runtime and will not work with the 2008 or 2010 runtime. So removing a runtime will break any application that is using that version of the runtime.

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  • But is it safe to remove old versions of the 2005 runtime, and old versions of the 2008 runtime?
    – mcandre
    Oct 29, 2012 at 13:59
  • No it is not safe - applications can be bound to a specific revision of the C++ runtime
    – shf301
    Oct 29, 2012 at 22:43

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