Uninstall of Multiple Visual C++ packs from win7 x64 programs list

[ismeit]

hello,

After installing various software in my win7 x64 pc, I opened
control panel and saw a bunch of similar versions of .microsoft visualC++ redistributables.

i dont know what are these for, but i have 6 of these listed in my control panel and
i would like to uninstall those unecessary without causing system instability etc.
When i say uninstall i mean from control panel/add-remove programs option

I have the following (listed first to last)
c++ 2008 redistr. x64 9.0.21022
c++ 2008 redistr. x86 9.0.21022
c++ 2008 redistr. x86 9.0.30729.17
c++ 2008 redistr. x86 9.0.30729.4148
c++ 2012 redistr. (x64) - 11.050727
c++ 2012 redistr. (x86) - 11.050727

The question is should i uninstall any of these ? Are they indeed duplicates
and which ones to keep ?

I have x64 w7 installed and any program i install i put it inside 'program files (x86)' folder,
altough another programs folder (without any number next to it exists in my hard drive)

thanks

 

[tekno2go]

No, they are not duplicates, they are all different. x86 means 32 bit while x64 means 64 bit. Basically they are a go-between coding program for developers so their programs work with windows. This saves them extra work needed to develop code.

Some software programs or games you installed also installed those c++ programs for them to work. If you uninstall them then those programs or games that installed them won't work.

Windows 7 64 bit has two program folders, The x86 folder is for 32 bit programs and the other one is for 64 bit programs.

 

[ismeit]

ok, got it !

I thought i would save some extra ram... but i have no games installed at all.
Maybe VLC or quicktime or itunes or bsplayer did it ? i hope when i uninstall a program in future,
it will remove the C++ file as well...

so, about the storage folder, what are you saying is that i am making big mistake i install any x64 programs inside a custom subfolder created in 'x86 program files' folder, or it does not matter anyway because i use x64 win which means the code will be executed nomatter the name and location of file /folder.