1For Windows we need the Visual C++ Redistributables. 2 3Copy them into this directory as: 4 5 vcredist_x86.exe 6 vcredist_x64.exe 7 8Note the names: Microsoft ships these as vc_redist.x86.exe / vc_redist.x64.exe, 9so they have to be renamed. configure, external/prj/d.lst, scp2 and 10desktop/win32/source/setup/setup.cpp all refer to the vcredist_* spelling. 11 12Which ones 13---------- 14The Visual C++ v14 Redistributable (Visual Studio 2015-2022), latest version: 15 16 x86 https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x86.exe 17 x64 https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x64.exe 18 19These are permalinks that always resolve to the current v14 release. 20 21The rule is that the redistributable must be the same version as, or newer 22than, the MSVC build tools used to compile the office. A v14 redistributable 23covers anything built with the toolsets in Visual Studio 2017, 2019, 2022 or 242026, because they all share one runtime. 25 26Do NOT use the Visual C++ 2008 redistributable. This file used to point at 27https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26368, which is the 28Visual Studio 2008 SP1 download (version 9.0.30729). Binaries built with a 29modern toolset import VCRUNTIME140.dll, VCRUNTIME140_1.dll, MSVCP140.dll and 30the UCRT; none of those are in the 2008 package, and the MSI ships no CRT of 31its own. Installing with the 2008 redistributable produces an office that 32cannot start on a machine which does not already happen to have the v14 33runtime. 34 35Supported Windows versions 36-------------------------- 37The current v14 redistributable supports Windows 10 and 11, and Windows Server 382016 / 2019 / 2022 / 2025 -- it does not install on anything older. That is 39what sets the minimum Windows version for a build made with a modern toolset; 40it is not an independent choice. 41 42If an older floor is ever needed, an older v14 servicing release has to be 43pinned here explicitly, and its own supported-OS list checked -- the v14 line 44has raised its floor over time. 45