Can't install PostgreSQL: An error occurred executing the Microsoft VC++ runtime installer on Windows XP

Question

I downloaded installer postgresql-9.0.1-1-windows.exe from the official site, ran it, and then got an error:

An error occurred executing the Microsoft VC+

Answer 1

I had these same problems and tried

• manually installing MS VC++
• bypassing VC++ installation on postgres
• fixing windows update service

Still unsuccessful

Then I solved these problem by installing postgres manually:

• extract the PostgreSQL installation contents to C:\PostgreSQL (you can copy from successful installation on other machines)
• add C:\PostgreSQL\bin to PATH environment
• run pg_ctl register -D D:\pgdata -N postgresql -U postgres -P