Stuck with dependencies in an AppX from Desktop App Converter

I have finally succeeded converting my desktop app to AppX with Desktop App Converter, and to sign it with the insight from Franklin Chen.

Step by step, I am getting closer to completion. But I am now bumping into a new hurdle (hopefully the last). I tried to follow the advice at https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vcblog/2016/07/07/using-visual-c-runtime-in-centennial-project/

I did install on my machine vc_uwpdesktop.110.exe, vc_uwpdesktop.120.exe and vc_uwpdesktop.140.exe.

But still not joy. When I try to install the AppX, I get this error message :

Ask the developer for a new app package. This
package may conflict with a package already
installed, or it depends on things not installed
here (package dependencies), or is made for a
different architecture (0x80073CF3)

20161015 - More information :

I tried to use add-appxpackage as instructed.

PS C:\Windows\system32> add-appxpackage –register C:\output\CheckWriterIII\PackageFiles\AppxManifest.xml

Here is the result on the command line :

add-appxpackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073CF3, Package failed updates, dependency or conflict validation. Windows cannot install package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt because this package depends on a framework that could not be found. Provide the framework "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" published by "CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US", with neutral or x86 processor architecture and minimum version 12.0.40652.5, along with this package to install. The frameworks with name "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" currently installed are: {} NOTE: For additional information, look for [ActivityId] 147c2bae-26c2-0005-268c-7c14c226d201 in the Event Log or use the command line Get-AppxLog -ActivityID 147c2bae-26c2-0005-268c-7c14c226d201 At line:1 char:1 + add-appxpackage –register C:\output\CheckWriterIII\PackageFiles\AppxM ... + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : WriteError: (C:\output\Check...ppxManifest.xml:String) [Add-AppxPackage], IOException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DeploymentError,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.AddAppxPackageCommand

As instructed, I have fetched the log :

PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-AppxLog -ActivityID 147c2bae-26c2-0005-268c-7c14c226d201

Time ID Message ---- -- ------- 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 301 The calling process is powershell.exe 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 603 Started deployment Register operation on a package with main parameter: AppxManifest.xml and Options: DevelopmentModeOption. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 10002 Creating Resiliency File C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\76c1ec66-a626-417f-be 73-95fd9ce4b88f_S-1-5-21-2501171662-860024267-76414939-1001_1.rslc for Register Operation on Package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM
607 Deployment Register operation on package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt has been de-queued and is running for user DESKTOP-V1EBBS5\mitch. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 613
Adding uri to the list of Uris: C:\output\CheckWriterIII\PackageFiles\AppxManifest.xml. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 628 Windows cannot install package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt because this package depends on a framework that could not be found. Provide the framework "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" published by "CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US", with neutral or x86 processor architecture and minimum version 12.0.40652.5, along with this package to install. The frameworks with name "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" currently installed are: {} 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 605 The last successful state reached was Indexed. Failure occurred before reaching the next state Resolved. hr: 0x80073CF3 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 401 Deployment Register operation with target volume C: on Package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt from: (AppxManifest.xml) failed with error 0x80073CF3. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 404 AppX Deployment operation failed for package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt with error 0x80073CF3. The specific error text for this failure is: Windows cannot install package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt because this package depends on a framework that could not be found. Provide the framework "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" published by "CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US", with neutral or x86 processor architecture and minimum version 12.0.40652.5, along with this package to install. The frameworks with name "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" currently installed are: {}

Now I don't understand why it does not find Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop. I have downloaded and installed vc_uwpdesktop.120.exe 12.0.40653.00 and double verify it as not only in programs and features, but on the disk where it is supposed to be.

Thanks for the update. That confirms what the problem is. It was actually described in your original post, but it's quite subtle:

I did install on my machine vc_uwpdesktop.110.exe, vc_uwpdesktop.120.exe and vc_uwpdesktop.140.exe.

Unfortunately this did not do what you think. It installed the .appx files that can be used to redistribute the framework dependencies. It did not actually install the framework dependencies themselves.

To install them, you have to find the .appx files they installed (or at least the 120 x86 version) and ensure they are also installed. You can do so directly with the App Installer, with Add-AppxPackage separately (and ahead of time), or, I believe, as part of your package's installation by referencing the framework dependency in a -DependencyPath argument.

The path to the .appx file in question looks something like this; tweak the version numbers and platform for your case as required. Just make sure you don't accidentally use a variant without "Desktop" in its name.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Kits\10\ExtensionSDKs\Microsoft.VCLibs.Desktop.110\14.0\Appx\Retail\x86

Once you install or reference the correct package here, your main package should install (or register) successfully.