ZBrushCentral

"side-by-side config" error--win7 64+Zbrush 3.5R3

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I installed Zbrush 3.5R3 on a windows7 64 system. It works normally
for several months.
Nowadays I met the error message “The application has failed to start
because its side- by- side configuration is incorrect” when launching
Zbrush.

I tried many ways searching from ZbrushCentral forum:

  1. Launch the vcredist_x86_VS2008_sp1.exe file that is included within
    the ZBrush3.5\Troubleshoot Help folder. No effect…

2.uninstall "vc++ 2005 redistributable 8.0.56336 / vc++ 2008
redistributable-x86 9.0.30729.17 " with Uninstall program function
uninstall Zbrush 3.5
reboot
reinstall Zbrush 3.5
No effect

3.uninstall Zbrush 3.5
uninstall "vc++ 2005 redistributable 8.0.56336 / vc++ 2008
redistributable-x86 9.0.30729.17 " with “windows install clean up”
reboot
reinstall Zbrush 3.5
No effect

Is there any other way to solve this problem?

Thanks in advance

#2

First, let’s just verify that ZBrush has proper permissions. It’s unlikely that this is the issue, but it’s the easiest thing to try and fix. Browse to the ZBrush 3.5 R3 folder and right-click on the ZBrush application. Choose Properties. In the new window, go to the Compatibility tab. The ONLY thing that should be checked on that tab is the option at the bottom to run as administrator. Anything else should be turned off, and if run as administrator is already off it should be turned on. Then click Apply and try running ZBrush again.

If that still fails (and it probably will), then the error is definitely caused by a problem with C++.

Please try the following:
1) Uninstall anything named Microsoft Visual C++ in the Control Panel>Remove Programs.
2) Restart your computer
3) Run all three vcredist installers found in the ZBrush 3.5 R3\TroubleshootHelp folder.

If that fails to resolve the issue, the only thing I’ve heard from other people as definitely working is a reinstall of Windows. Terrible thing to say, I know. But the problem in this situation is not ZBrush; it’s something in Windows that is causing the C++ installation to have issues. That in turn prevents ZBrush from running and will also affect any other applications that require these components.