How to: Repair Visual Studio
If the Visual Studio installation becomes damaged, you can repair it. For example, if a .dll file is deleted or becomes corrupted, you can repair it.
Repairing Visual Studio
To repair the product on Windows XP or earlier
In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, select the product you want to repair and then click Change/Remove.
For example, Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition - ENU.
In the Setup wizard, click Next.
Click Repair or Reinstall.
To repair the product on Windows Vista
Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Programs.
Click Programs and Features and then select the Visual Studio Edition you installed.
Click Uninstall/Change.
In the setup wizard, select Repair or Reinstall and then click Next.
Follow the remaining instructions in the installation wizard to finish.
Installing Optional Components
If you chose not to install certain components during setup, you can install these items later. For example, if you did not install the .NET Framework SDK, you can restart Setup to install it.
To install optional components on Windows XP or earlier
In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, select Visual Studio 2008 <edition>.
In the Setup wizard, click Next.
Click Add or Remove Features.
In the Select features to install list, select the items that you want to install.
Click Update to install these components.
To install optional components on Windows Vista
Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Programs.
Click Programs and Features and then select the Visual Studio 2008 <edition> you installed.
Click Uninstall/Change.
In the setup wizard, select Add Optional Products and then click Next.
Select the components you want to install and then click Next.
Follow the remaining instructions in the setup wizard to finish.