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Import Redistributables into MDT

To install the Visual C++ Redistributables as a part of a reference image or for use with a deployment solution based on the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), Import-VcMdtApplication will import each of the Visual C++ Redistributables as separate applications that includes the passive or silent command lines, platform support and the UninstallKey for detecting whether the Visual C++ Redistributable is already installed.

Visual C++ Redistributables can be filtered for release and processor architecture by Get-VcList before passing to Save-VcRedist and Import-VcMdtApplication. The output from Save-VcRedist is required, because it includes the Path property that is populated with the path to each installer.

Parameters

Required parameters

  • VcList - An array containing details of the Visual C++ Redistributables from Save-VcRedist
  • MdtPath - the local or network path to the MDT deployment share

Optional parameters

  • Silent - Configures the MDT application quiet install command to be completely silent instead of using the default passive install command line
  • Force - Forces overwrite of an existing Visual C++ Redistributable application
  • AppFolder - Imports the Visual C++ Redistributables into a sub-folder. Defaults to VcRedists
  • MdtDrive - The drive letter that will be mapped to the MDT deployment share. Not required and defaults to DS001
  • Publisher - The publisher that will be assigned to the Visual C++ Redistributables bundle. Not required and defaults to "Microsoft"
  • Language - The language assigned to the Visual C++ Redistributables bundle. Defaults to en-US

Examples

Import the 2012, 2013 and 2022 supported Redistributables into an MDT deployment share:

$VcList = Get-VcList | Save-VcRedist -Path C:\Temp\VcRedist
Import-VcMdtApplication -VcList $VcList -MdtPath \\server\deployment

Each Redistributable will be imported into the deployment share with application properties required for a successful deployment.

Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables applications imported into an MDT share

The folder structure in the deployment share, will look thus:

Visual C++ Redistributables in the deployment share Application folder

The install command line arguments used by default are passive. Fully silent install command line arguments can be specified with the -Silent parameter when importing the applications into an MDT deployment share.

$VcList = Get-VcList | Save-VcRedist -Path C:\Temp\VcRedist
Import-VcMdtApp -VcList $VcList -MdtPath \\server\deployment -Silent