The installer or launcher performs a "vanity check" – it looks for the existence of that filename. When it finds your dummy file, it assumes the redistributable is already present and proceeds. Since you already installed the real redistributable in Method 1, this works flawlessly.
Your game or application is trying to locate an installer for a 15+ year-old Microsoft component, and it cannot find it. The installer is looking for that exact filename, likely via a batch script or a custom launcher.
The operating system (like Windows 10 or 11) has blocked the execution of an older, unsigned installer. The Fix: Manual Intervention
The installer needs Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable (x64). The required installer file is missing, corrupted, or the installer can’t locate it.
When developers build software using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, the software relies on pre-made blocks of code called C++ runtime libraries. To run that software on another computer, those libraries must be installed on the target machine. The installer packages that contain these libraries are called "Redistributables."
A: You likely installed the x86 version on a 64-bit system. You need both x86 and x64. Also, run the installer in Windows 7 Compatibility Mode (Right-click → Properties → Compatibility → Windows 7).
