What Is Microsoft Visual C Runtime?

Runtime Purpose
The C runtime contains basic functions like memory allocation used to develop applications. When programmers use the runtime functions, their applications depend on the C runtime. Applications can also have an indirect dependency on the runtime if a library is used that depends on the C runtime. The Visual C runtime can be found on most computers running Windows, since many applications developed using Microsoft languages, e.g., Visual C++, depend on the runtime.
Obtaining the Runtime
If you install an application and receive an error that the C runtime is not available or you need to develop an application using the runtime, you may need to obtain one or more versions. There are multiple versions of the Visual C runtime:* Msvcr90.dll -Visual C++ 2008* Msvcr80.dll -Visual C++ 2005* Msvcr71.dll -Visual C++ .NET 2003 (.NET Framework 1.1)* Msvcr70.dll -Visual C++ .NET 2002 (.NET Framework 1.0)The versions all have similar functions, but different applications require specific versions depending on how they were developed. Each version is distributed as a component of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package and is available for download from the Microsoft website.
Common Issues
One of the most common issues associated with Visual C runtime is ensuring that the correct version is installed on the machine. If the wrong version is being used, an application may unexpectedly quit or display error messages. This issue may be corrected by reinstalling the program or restoring the correct version from a Windows installation disk.