Could not load file or assembly "CefSharp.core.runtime.dll" when using VCRuntime.CefSharp.140 Nuget package.

[uptodatehuang]

What version of the product are you using?
NuGet:
cef.redist.x64(88),
cef.redist.x86(88)
CefSharp.Common(88-pre-release)
CefSharp.WinForms(88-pre-release)
VCRuntime.CefSharp.140(1.0.4)

What architecture x86 or x64?
x86

On what operating system?
Win10

Are you using WinForms, WPF or OffScreen?
WinForms

What steps will reproduce the problem?

1. tested app working with Visual C++ Redistributables 2015 installed in PC.
2. then remove any Visual C++ Redistributables from the PC using 'Add or Remove Program' feature
   3.copy below files into application folder
   concrt140.dll
   msvcp140.dll
   msvcp140_1.dll
   msvcp140_2.dll
   vccorlib140.dll
   vcruntime140.dll

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
Expected: Cef should initiate properly
Actual: throw 'Unexpected Exception' during Cef Ini and error message is:
CefSharp could not load file or assembly "CefSharp.core.runtime.dll" or one of its dependencies. is not a valid Win32 application

Please provide any additional information below.

Reference:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/54755445/how-to-include-vc-redistributable-files-needed-by-cefsharp

[uptodatehuang]

We found the issue.

We try to use this Nuget package to bring in VC++ runtime files: VCRuntime.CefSharp.140
But it actually just bring in msvcp140.dll and vcruntime140.dll into application folder.
So we manually copied the rest of files into application folder and keep these 2 files untouched.
concrt140.dll
msvcp140_1.dll
msvcp140_2.dll
vccorlib140.dll
Then we got the error.

The fix we did is:

• uninstall this Nuget package VCRuntime.CefSharp.140
• copy all files inside this folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Professional\VC\Redist\MSVC\14.15.26706\x86\Microsoft.VC141.CRT to the application folder, and the app starts properly.

Summary:
I think the root cause is incompartibility between the files this package bring and the rest of files from my pc

[amaitland]

VCRuntime.CefSharp.140(1.0.4)

Whilst the package has CefSharp in the name it has no association with the CefSharp project. I've never used it.

https://github.com/cefsharp/CefSharp/wiki/Frequently-asked-questions#6-how-do-i-include-the-visual-studio-c-201220132015-redistributables-with-my-application has details on including vc++ with your application. It's a little outdated, anyone with a GitHub account can edit the wiki, your welcome to make improvements.

[amaitland]

If you are looking at automating the approach then I'd suggest using something like the following:

  <Import Project="$(DevEnvDir)..\..\VC\Auxiliary\Build\Microsoft.VCToolsVersion.default.props"/>
  
  <Target Name="IncludeVisualCppInOutFolder" AfterTargets="ResolveReferences">
    <PropertyGroup>
      <!-- For VS2017 we use VC141, for VS2019 we use VC142 -->
      <_VCVersion>VC141</_VCVersion>
      <_VCVersion Condition="'$(VisualStudioVersion)'=='16.0'">VC142</_VCVersion>
      <_VCRedistLocation>$(DevEnvDir)..\..\VC\Redist\MSVC\$(VCToolsRedistVersion)\$(PlatformTarget)\Microsoft.$(_VCVersion).CRT</_VCRedistLocation>
    </PropertyGroup>
    <Message Importance="high" Text="_VCVersion = $(_VCVersion)" />
    <Message Importance="high" Text="_VCRedistLocation = $(_VCRedistLocation)" />
    <ItemGroup>
      <ReferenceCopyLocalPaths  Include="$(_VCRedistLocation)\**\*" />
    </ItemGroup>
  </Target>

• Only works when run under Visual Studio
• Only works for x86/x64 platformtargets
• Should work under VS2017 though not tested.