Manually Installing Visual C++ Runtime in Console Mode

Technical support and Library
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If the version of Visual C++ Runtime is not properly updated, Vista will not start and a blank screen will be seen when in console mode. The machine is still running but due to it being in console mode Windows Explorer does not start. These steps will show you how to manually start Explorer, install C++, and then start Vista.

Step-by-step guide

Follow these steps on a separate computer:

  1. Download a copy of Visual C++ from here
  2. Place the installer on a USB flash drive

On the Vista machine:

  1. Insert the USB drive with the installer into a free USB port
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager
  3. Click File/Run New Task

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  1. Type “explorer.exe”

task2

  1. Navigate to the flash drive and run the Visual C++ installer

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  1. When finished close the installer and close the explorer window.
  2. If the Task manager is still open click File/Run New Task - If Task Manager is closed repeat step 2 to reopen.
  3. Type “vista.exe”

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Vista will now start properly and enter console mode. No other configuration will be needed.