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

Try installing as administrator (using Run as administrator).

In version 9.0. PostgreSQL can be installed as a Windows administrator :)

Answer 2

I had the same problem while trying to install PostgreSQL version 11.1. I had to uninstall the Microsoft VC++ and run the installer again. It downloaded the required VC++ and the installation went successful.

Answer 3

Go to file %windir%\inf\wsh.inf, right click, and select 'Install'.

Then re-run the PostgreSQL installer.

This works on Windows XP with PostgreSQL 8.4.17-1.

Answer 4

First download and install Microsoft Visual C++ from the Microsoft website. Then run the installation from command with --install_runtimes 0.

Answer 5

Check if Windows Script Host (WSH) is enabled. If not enabled, details are here: PostgreSQL Installation Problem on Windows without WSH

Answer 6

One of the reasons this can happen is because the installer attempts to install an older version of the VC++ runtime than what you are currently using.

See this installation log, found in your user's temporary directory (e.g. dd_vcredist_amd64_20190214193107.log):

[20C0:20E4][2019-02-14T19:31:07]e000: Error 0x80070666: Cannot install a product when a newer version is installed.

A workaround is to prevent the runtimes from installing with the --install_runtimes option:

postgresql-9.6.12-1-windows-x64.exe --install_runtimes 0