12.1 EDK - Network Windows users and the need to install M/S Redistribution Libraries

Description

When running the EDK tools, I sometimes encounter a fatal GUI error message stating that the tools just encountered an unexpected error.  I can also encounter the following message:

Warning: VC++ 2005 runtime libraries are not installed.
Please install the runtime libraries by running the redistributable C:\Xilinx\12
.1\ISE_DS\common\bin\nt\vcredist_x86.exe from the installed area.
You will need to have administrative privilege to run VC++ 2005 Redistributable.

What could be the cause of this problem?

Solution

If possible, follow the directions of the issued warning message. 

Xilinx tools now require that the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package be installed on the machine on which they are being run. This package is installed when you select 'yes' to install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package during the installation of the Xilinx tools on the machine. However, if the tools are installed on a remote machine and are being used on a local machine over a network drive, the tools will not work properly (possibly crash) unless the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package is installed on the local machine. This package creates a folder called WinSxS in the C:\Windows directory, and populates it with some libraries. 

You can download the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package and install it manually on the local machine:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=32BC1BEE-A3F9-4C13-9C99-220B62A191EE&displaylang=en
 

Known issues with the M/S redistribution libraries:

- If you do not have the EDK tools installed on a network drive, refer to (Xilinx Answer 32264).

- It has been found that if the TEMP directory contains non-English characters, you can experience the problem described in this Answer Record. Removing all non-English characters successfully overcomes this problem.

- An unistallation of a previous version of the tools may uninstall the M/S redistribution library

This answer record is relevant for version 11.x as well as version 12.x.