The following are installed on my Windows 7 PC

 

Microsoft Visual C++  2005  Redistributable  8.0.56336                            2.74 MB

Microsoft Visual C++  2005  Redistributable  8.0.51993                            0.34 MB

Microsoft Visual C++  2008  Redistributable -x64   9.0.30729.17             0.77 MB

Microsoft Visual C++  2008  Redistributable -x86   9.0.30729.17             0.58 MB

Microsoft Visual C++  2008  Redistributable -x86   9.0.30729.4148         0.57 MB

Microsoft Visual C++  2012  Redistributable -x86   11.0.61030               17.38 MB  

Microsoft Visual C++  2013  Redistributable -x86   12.0.30501               17.19 MB      

Microsoft Visual C++  2015  Redistributable (x64)   13.0.23026              24.38 MB

Microsoft Visual C++  2015  Redistributable (x86)   14.0.24125              21.52 MB

 

 

Do I really need that lot?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those multiple/different versions are driven by the various programs you have installed which were written for a specific version of MS Visual C++.   If you remove some of the listed versions then it's possible some of the programs you installed may might work properly.

 

More info here:

https://www.infopackets.com/news/9778/explained-can-i-remove-microsoft-visual-c-redistributable

 

Those multiple/different versions are driven by the various programs you have installed which were written for a specific version of MS Visual C++.   If you remove some of the listed versions then it's possible some of the programs you installed may might work properly.
 
More info here:
https://www.infopackets.com/news/9778/explained-can-i-remove-microsoft-visual-c-redistributable
 

In theory new versions of Microsoft software ought to be backwards compatible.

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11 hours ago, tprender said:

 

In theory new versions of Microsoft software ought to be backwards compatible.

Sent from my Lenovo K52e78 using Tapatalk
 

 

They are not "software" as much as they are runtimes. Microsoft does deprecate/remove or change functions in later versions that will, as Pib said, affect software. Those developers would need to update their code as well to support newer runtimes. 

From looking at the OP's snapshot it's interesting how the different versions installed vary greatly in size from around 0.34Mb to 24Mb in size.  As is some times only a subportion/specific part of C++ is needed; other times a more complete version.

 

Heck on my x64 bit computer I show quite a few versions installed....various sizes...both X86 (32bit) and X64 (64bit) versions....installed on only three different dates.  As to what programs required/drove their install I couldn't say.   But I'm not going to do any experimenting in uninstalling any of below.   Plus, when programs install themselves now they install in specific locations/folders along with any supporting software with entries in the Windows registry.  Nope I leave these C++ installs alone....I got PLENTY of unused disk space.

 

 

15 hours ago, Pib said:

interesting how the different versions installed vary greatly in size from around 0.34Mb to 24Mb in size

On mine like Pib I have multiple same versions reported and different sizes to the for those same versions as well.