Some common repackaging tools include:
preparation.exe /SKIPPREREQ
If your only goal is to run applications that were built with Visual Studio 2013, you do not need the full IDE at all. You just need the Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable Package. You can download the official packages directly from Microsoft's website. On a 64-bit system, it's recommended to install both the vcredist_x64.exe and vcredist_x86.exe versions to ensure compatibility with both 64-bit and 32-bit applications. preparationexe visual studio 2013 repack
Use it only if you have a very old PC, almost no internet bandwidth, and you know how to sandbox software.
Microsoft no longer officially supports VS2013, but if you absolutely need it: Some common repackaging tools include: preparation
Stay safe – always verify software with official Microsoft sources.
This command creates a directory C:\VS2013Layout containing the files necessary for deploying Visual Studio 2013 with your specified configurations. On a 64-bit system, it's recommended to install
Because preparation.exe in a repack is not signed by Microsoft, modern antivirus engines flag it as “Potentially Unwanted Program” (PUP) or “HackTool.”
: Antivirus or firewall programs may block Preparation.exe because it initiates shell commands or moves files into system directories.
Microsoft still provides official ISO files for older versions of Visual Studio through various channels. For Visual Studio 2013, you can often find the ISO on the official download pages, sometimes with Update 4 or Update 5 already integrated. The ISO file is a complete, offline installer that includes all components, and you can burn it to a DVD or mount it as a virtual drive. There are community-maintained lists that aggregate these official links for various versions of Visual Studio, including VS2013.
Many repacks of VS2013 were created on Windows 7 or 8. On Windows 10 or 11, User Account Control (UAC) blocks preparation.exe from writing to protected directories.