VB application built using visual studio 2015 installation to windows xp

Question

I updated a vb windows forms application using visual studio 2015. I need to install this on a windows xp machine.

I updated my application to run using .net framework 4.0, the same as the one installed in the xp machine.

When I tried to install it the first time, it asked me to restart the machine, which I did. after restarting it gave me the error that installation is incomplete.

I have been researching all morning on how to fix it, i tried the dpca.dll solution, i tried restarting the windows installer service, i used msiexec to view the logs, and now it gives me the error that a dll required for this install to complete could not be run. I have no idea which dll, it doesn't say.

My application is fine. It builds and installs beautifully on windows 7 and above.

Please help me before I smash the windows xp machine into pieces.

Answer 1

I came across a comment that i can run the executable itself, just needed to copy all the dll files and put it in the same folder as the executable. So I just copied the whole folder and run the exe on the xp machine and it works.