After running the cleanup tool and clearing the cache, your machine will act as if Visual Studio 2012 was never installed. You can then download and install Visual Studio 2012 Update 4 to ensure you are on the latest, most stable version.
Because the Pre-Clean Tool is embedded within the main product, retrieving it requires downloading the full Visual Studio 2012 installation media. Below are the only reliable methods to obtain it today.
Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 (VS 2012) was a major release in the Microsoft development ecosystem, introducing significant IDE improvements. However, during its lifecycle, particularly when applying updates (Update 1 through Update 4) or managing heavy development workloads, users often encountered installation failures, corrupted cache files, or broken update processes.
Mismatched registry keys that trick the installer into thinking a newer version is already present. Shared developer runtimes that block clean updates. How to Download and Run the Pre-Clean Tool
Navigate to the folder and run the VisualStudioCleanup.exe as an administrator. microsoft visual studio 2012 pre clean tool download upd
Update for Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 (KB2781514) Visual Studio 2012 Update 1
This command performs the same function as the "Clean Solution" menu command within the IDE and can be useful for fixing build errors caused by stale intermediate files.
Download the latest release .zip file, extract the contents, right-click Setup.ForcedUninstall.exe , and select Run as administrator . 2. The Standard Setup Force Command
Go to your main program files directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\ . After running the cleanup tool and clearing the
The /force parameter is extremely powerful. Microsoft intended this method to be a last resort to clean a system of remaining artifacts from a non-successful installation, saving you from having to reimage your entire machine. As a result, running this tool can have unintended consequences for older software. Specifically, , as they share MSI upgrade codes with newer versions. Only use this method when you are certain you want to completely remove Visual Studio 2012 and are prepared to potentially reinstall other components if issues arise.
The tool may remove shared .NET components. Always reinstall the required .NET Framework version before relaunching the Visual Studio 2012 installer.
Run: vs_premium.exe /uninstall /force (replace vs_premium.exe with your specific edition installer, such as vs_professional.exe or vs_ultimate.exe ). 2. Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter
What do you see when the installation fails? Below are the only reliable methods to obtain it today
You are trying to install a later version of Visual Studio, but the installer fails due to existing VS 2012 components.
Installing, updating, or uninstalling Microsoft Visual Studio 2012—especially after installing various updates, service packs, or language packs—can sometimes lead to a "broken" installation state. Registry corruption, leftover files, and cache issues may prevent you from reinstalling or upgrading to a newer version.
: Look for specific updates or patches like KB2781514 on the Microsoft Download Center which address setup flaws.
Run InstallCleanup.exe -i to clean up the main install path while protecting shared tools. Where to Safely Download 2012 Updates