c++ - Use Visual Studio 2012 and compile with older platform toolset?

Question

The problem

I'm using Visual Studio 2012 to develop C++ DLLs. On some machines these DLLs can not be loaded, because the platform toolset, which is set to "v110" is missing.

I have tried to install older c++ runtimes. They didn't install because "a newer version is already installed". I also installed the current Windows SDK, but there are still no other items to choose from than v110.

Question

How can I compile my C++ DLL with an older version of the C++ runtime so it will run on non-developer machines?

Answer 1

According to this page on MSDN, you need to have the corresponding version of Visual Studio (2008 or 2010), or the relevant Windows SDK for the "Platform Toolset" drop down to list those versions:

To change the target platform toolset, you must have the associated version of Visual Studio or the Windows Platform SDK installed.

You also seem to be a little bit confused between "Platform Toolset", which controls which compiler/linker/etc. is used to build your application, and "Visual C++ Redistributable", which is needed to run your application. You can't install a "Platform Toolset" on a user's PC, and nor will you make one available by installing a particular "Visual C++ Redistributable" on your development PC.

Also, as far as I know, the Visual C++ Redistributable doesn't include the MFC runtimes. They're available as a separate MSI merge module (MSM).