vc_red is the Microsoft Visual C++ redistribution package, most often when you get this you are not administrator, particularly on Win7 box. Might try "run as administrator" right click on install.

Jeff

The only copy of vs_red.msi is in my downloads folder. If I right click on that file, I don't see a "run as administrator". If I right click on install, I get "another program is being installed" ... this would be PowerDirector 10.0. Should I abandon the install of PowerDirector?

Did you use "run as administrator" on the PD10 install package.

Jeff

Just tried that ... same error. I think I will try downloading the Microsoft Visual C++ redistribution package from microsoft.com. I am on Vista SP2 64 bit.

Downloading the Microsoft Visual C++ redistribution package from microsoft.com did not solve the problem. In fact, I couldn't even find another copy of vc_red.msi on my system after I installed the package. The error occurs during the installation of SmartSound. I cancelled that installation, and the rest of PowerDirector installed fine and works well. I guess I can live without SmartSound.

the .msi file is the instructions for the OS to install the redistribution package (mostly GUI .dlls used by SS).

most likely cause is errors in your registry, try ccleaner (free on internet from trusted site like pcworld ... note this is not CLcleaner from cyberlink which only does limited edit of registry) Norton 360 also has registry cleaner, but cost $$$.

RTX 2060 SUPER 8GB GDDR6
(2 NVME 2TB, 1 SSD 2TB, 3SATA 18TB )
PD18 ULTIMATE 64bit
WINDOWS 10 PRO 64 BIT
GIGABYTE X570 AORUS PRO WIFI MB
RYZEN 7 3700X 8-CORE , 64 GB DDR4
ORSAIR HX1050 watts PSU

Thanks for the help. I ran ccleaner and Norton 360. Both found many registry errors. I don't think I'll reinstall PowerDirector, though, unless I have a problem. After skipping the error yesterday, I brought up PowerDirector and clicked on the Magic Music icon. It installed many updates. Smartsound seems to be working fine.

Quote: the .msi file is the instructions for the OS to install the redistribution package (mostly GUI .dlls used by SS).

Not quite: the .msi file should also include the files that are part of the product. A "setup" program is really a front-end to the .msi, assuming the program uses the Microsoft installer. Jerry Schwartz

I have this issue all of a sudden come up, and then found this forum thread, but there seems to be no actual solution provided. Can anyone please give a point-by-point solution to this? I'm on Windows 7 64-bit. Thank you, DC

I'm aware of the age of this thread. Apologies for doing such a horrible thing of posting in an old topic if it destroyed your life! But I've just run in to this issue installing old development software for an old game (UDK 2009 beta version) and found a solution. The solution for me was clicking the browse button and it opened right up to the location of where the vc_red.msi file was. I just clicked on it and the installation finally completed instead of giving the same error reported in this topic about it being on a local network that couldn't be accessed. I did run the installation exe as administrator when this solution occurred. Without running the installation file as admin when I got the error it wouldn't find it but when I did run it as admin when I clicked the browse button the file was there.

I attempted finding the file to upload it somewhere for anyone else having this issue but a file explorer search didn't find it. I'm baffled by that but it kind of fixed it self.

Run the installation as admin and if you get the network error click the browse button. Hope it's there for you as it was for me.
Hope this helps someone that finds this thread searching for a solution to this issue.

No solution was here so I hope I don't get blasted for posting in an old thread. I just had this same issue 6/23/2021.
Having "a" solution here would have been helpful. A solution is here now.