Article last reviewed for Visual Studio 2012 Update 5 – still valid as of Windows 10 LTSC 2019.
Open Task Manager or use Command Prompt:
[091C:0620]: Acquiring package: vs_preclean_vs, payload: vs_preclean_vs, copy from: E:\packages\VS_Clean\VS_PreClean_vs.exe [091C:0620]: Error 0x80070002: Failed to find spot for variable WIXBUNDLELASTUSEDSOURCE Common Root Causes
| Utility Name | Primary Role | User Interaction | Key Capabilities | Scope of Impact | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | devenv.exe | Primary IDE (the "VSExe") | Direct, daily developer interaction | Compiling, editing, debugging, project/solution management | Project/Solution level ( /Clean ) or the entire IDE environment | | vs_preclean_vs.exe | Pre-installation & uninstallation utility for VS 2012 RC | Invoked automatically by installer | Prepares system for install, performs forced, deep system cleanup | System level (registry, temp files, shared components) | | InstallCleanup.exe | Post-uninstall forced cleanup tool | Manual command-line execution | Aggressively removes all installation files & product info for a Visual Studio version | System level for targeted Visual Studio versions | | MSBuild.exe | Stand-alone build platform | Command-line integration | Builds projects/solutions without loading the IDE; can clean via Clean target | Project/Solution level as defined in build files | vsprecleanvsexe visual studio 2012 exclusive
Navigating Visual Studio 2012 Installation Issues: The Role of VS_PreClean_vs.exe
: The file is usually located in the C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\ directory. If this folder is manually deleted or moved to save space, the installer will fail to find the pre-clean script during a repair or uninstall.
VS_PreClean_vs.exe is a specialized utility script used by the Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 installer to prepare a system for a clean environment before installation. It is primarily designed to remove remnants of earlier preview builds or conflicting components that might cause installation failures or registry corruption. Article last reviewed for Visual Studio 2012 Update
Once the main environment successfully clears the pre-clean phase and finishes installing, make sure to immediately apply (the definitive service pack for this version) along with critical security patches like KB2781514 . This prevents the IDE from locking up when creating or managing C++ and JavaScript projects.
vsprecleanvsexe /project:C:\Users\username\Documents\MyProject
Have you encountered this exact error string in a build log? If so, double-check the exact wording — it may help trace whether it’s from a third-party add-in or a custom build script referencing “vspreclean” as a variable or target name. VS_PreClean_vs
In Visual Studio 2012, the command-line profiling tools were located in:
If you are operating on updated modern operating systems and do not have access to legacy media packages, Microsoft includes built-in commands within modern installer files. For contemporary environments, running InstallCleanup.exe -all from your administrative command prompt is the modern, native equivalent used to wipe problematic IDE instances safely.
Submitting a successful build together brought a sense of shared accomplishment, a digital equivalent of building something together. 4. Late Nights and Shared Caffeine