How can I completely remove my Visual C++ Express installation?

Question

I have a bunch of 'Hotfix for Visual C++ Standard 2010 Beta 1 - ENU' updates installed.
As well as 1 'Hotfix for Microsoft Visual C++ Express - ENU'

I have already completely uninstalled Visual C++ Express 2010 as best as I could. But I would like to get rid of these left overs.

Problem is, there's no uninstall option for the 20 Beta 1 hotfixes, and when I try to uninstall the other one, I get a nice 'This action is only valid for products that are currently installed.'

Here's a screenshot for better reference: Like I said, I don't have Visual C++ installed anymore, so I want to get rid of these.

Solution

Option 1 would be to use System Restore if you have an appropriate restore point handy.

Option 2 would be to reinstall Visual C++ Express 2010 and them uninstall everything in reverse order, i.e. hotfixes/updates first and finally the app itself.

If Options 1 and 2 are not possible for some reason, I recommend you try this instead:

1. At an elevated command prompt, type:

   dism /Online /Get-Packages > Packages.txt
   

2. Open Packages.txt and you'll see something similar to the following:

   Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
   Version: 6.1.7600.16385
   
   Image Version: 6.1.7600.16385
   
   Packages listing:
   
   Package Identity : Package_for_KB2705219~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.1.1.1
   State : Superseded
   Release Type : Security Update
   Install Time : 15-08-2012 05:38 PM
   
   ...
   
   The operation completed successfully.
   

3. Based on the information about each package, try and identify the ones you want to remove. For example, the one above corresponds to this update. Similarly, try and locate the packages for the hotfixes listed in your screenshot, such as this one for example.

4. Now use a command similar to the following to remove the specified packages:

   dism /Online /Remove-Package /PackageName:Package_for_KB2705219~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.1.1.1 /PackageName:<Package Identity 2> /PackageName:<Package Identity 3> ...
   

Hopefully it will work and not throw the same error about the main program no longer being installed. If it doesn't work, a final option might be to use some freeware/commercial uninstallation utility, but not sure which one would work and how well.

---

Edit: Some more things to try:

1. Visual Studio 2010 Uninstall Utility

2. From an elevated command prompt:

   wusa /uninstall /kb:<KB Number> (For example: wusa /uninstall /kb:983233)
   

Comments

[Ramhound]

So click on each one and it will be removed from the list. Your only other option is to roll your system back using a restore point.

[Josh]

@Ramhound I can't, that's the problem. And using system restore isn't an option unfortunately.

[Ramhound]

What do you mean you can't? When I normally get that message the entry is removed from the list. The files technically already were removed when you uninstalled Visual C++ Standard 2010 Beta 1.

[Josh]

Hmm what if I can't find any reference to those updates in Packages.txt?

[Karan]

Then try one of the other options. If nothing works as I said there are utilities such as Revo Uninstaller that might help, but I have no experience with them so cannot recommend anything specific.

[Josh]

Alright, thanks very much for your help and detailed post.

[Karan]

Sure, let me know if the dism method worked.

[Josh]

It didn't, I already tried.

[Karan]

You found no matching packages at all, or did it throw an error?

[Josh]

No errors, but I couldn't find any packages (I only tried 2)

[Karan]

See the edits above - maybe one of them will help.

[Bryce]

I apologize for the confusion CCeaner will not list hotfixes unless its windows xp. However you can still tell CCleaner to manually access the hotfixes using the include feature in CCleaner. That way it will detect the hotfixes.

[Karan]

I suppose you mean Options / Include? When I click the Add button all I see is this. How would you select hotfixes from this dialog?