Just realized I have msvc++ 2008 redistributable package installed.Why and when?

Question

In my windows xp, why suddenly I have msvc++ 2008 redistributable package installed?
THe installation date is the same as my qt sdk and virtualbox. Is it possible because of either ? Or anything else?

Answer 1

Qt sdk doesnot require Visual C++ 2008 redistributable.

It is required for "applications" developed with Visual C++ SP1, to run on a computer that does not have Visual C++ 2008 SP1 installed. So usually when an application developed with VS is deployed ,they bundle redistributable with the installer.

So my answer would be Virtual Box

Answer 2

From the download page:

The Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86) installs runtime components of Visual C++ Libraries required to run applications developed with Visual C++ SP1 on a computer that does not have Visual C++ 2008 SP1 installed.

This package installs runtime components of C Runtime (CRT), Standard C++, ATL, MFC, OpenMP and MSDIA libraries. For libraries that support side-by-side deployment model (CRT, SCL, ATL, MFC, OpenMP) they are installed into the native assembly cache, also called WinSxS folder, on versions of Windows operating system that support side-by-side assemblies.

Since VirtualBox requires Visual Studio 2003 or 2005 for the build instructions, I'm assuming they are from VirtualBox.

Answer 3

MSVC++ is the Visual C++ 2008 redistributable, and my guess is that it was installed with either the Qt SDK or VirtualBox.