I managed to find a bit of free time to quickly install and test the thing on the offline computer, but I got the same problem as before when I tried to install Visual Studio. This time it was able to install 5 files before it hit a point that it couldn't get any further (which is a small fraction of all the files, and it might have even done that much the previous time - I don't remember).

Well, after my latest attempt, I considered either doing what you suggest or installing it on the online computer (this one) and migrating it to the offline one. But then I remembered that the previous time I wanted to do that, I realized that the new versions of Visual Studio aren't compatible with the online computer, because it's running Windows Vista 32-bit (it's an old computer) and the newer versions of Visual Studio seem to require 64-bit, and possibly a newer version of Windows, but I'm not sure. So I don't think I'd even be able to install it on the online computer. It might be possible, but only if it allows it to be installed on a 32-bit computer even if it can only run on a 64-bit computer, but in my experience, that's usually not allowed with most programs.

Anyway, do you think that this same problem would cause an incompatibility with your method?

EDIT: I've verified that when I run the installer on this computer (Vista) it shows an error that says "The specified program requires a newer version of Windows." and then exits. However, I don't know whether that will interfere with your VM method.

Also, russellskanne: I've sent you a friend request, because I think I might be required to have you in my list in order to be able to receive private messages from you, so that you can give me the information that you've documented about how you got it to work before. Please do so, because I'm getting very desperate to fix this problem!!! Thank you!

It's possible to install a 64-bit virtual machine on a 32-bit host. There's a few hardware requirements and software settings for VirtualBox. I'm sure the other virtualization programs have their own specific requirements as well.

https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch03.html#intro-64bitguests

I just read the first part of the link you gave me, in section "3.1.2. 64-bit guests" (where it's scrolled to by default), and it says: "You need a 64-bit processor that has hardware virtualization support." This computer (the online one) is only 32-bit, and if I understand you correctly (which I'm not entirely certain that I do), I need to do this virtual installation stuff on the online computer before I move it to the offline one, which means that the online one would need to be 64-bit. Is that correct or am I misunderstanding something?

It's the CPU that needs to 64-bit capable for this to work, rather than the OS (VT-x or AMD-v extensions). It should say in the BIOS, or there may be a tool you can download to test it like CPU-ID, or you should be able to check in the BIOS.

Well I'm pretty sure that the CPU isn't compatible either, because I got it with the computer, which came with Windows Vista, which was new at the time, which means that the computer was built in... 2007 I think. And I'm pretty sure processors at that time were 32-bit.

Also, I just checked in my device manager and it says the my processors are:

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40 GHz

So, whatever those specifically are, but I don't know why it doesn't say how many bits the address or data bus have.

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/29765/intel-core-2-quad-processor-q6600-8m-cache-2-40-ghz-1066-mhz-fsb.html

64bits but your Vista is probably 32bits, or? Check by right clicking computer and click properties.

You can look through that ark for information like support for this and that and which extensions it has.

Hah! Me ninja! You dead. Bonzai!

Alternatively: Great minds think alike.

It seems you already found a solution(afaik) but yeah....it's called Alcohol 52%, and the version you'd/one would want is the free version. :)

I was mostly suggesting bigger drives for backup/data storage on the cheap, and not just disc image use.....as sort of a bit of general advice.

Now i'm gonna be speculating what work/stuff y'all have that needs that level of protection(spy, gov't worker, hermit, etc). :D

(To All: This isn't a dig on anyone, btw, k peoples? :))

Good points...maybe they have techs design custom software just for them? Or jury rig the same for them?

If that other tool doesn't work Alcohol 52% free version might.
======================================

I have some bad news for you. Community Edition also has an expiration (3 months if I recall correctly). After that you need to sign up and log in to MS account. After that you are free to use it offline, but the first sign in requires Internet access.
The last free version of VS that did not require any Internet access was VS 2008 Express I think.

I checked, and yes, it's Vista 32-bit.

Well, it has 2 GB of RAM.

Well I already got Daemon Tools, so I'll try that next, but if that doesn't work then I'll try alcohol... literally.

Well I guess if it expires then I can reinstall it, but actually, there's one specific important project that I need to upgrade, so once that's done I'm not entirely sure that I'll even need the thing anymore. And even if it does require registration, I'm sure there's some way around that, like tricking it into thinking that it hasn't expired by changing a timestamp or something. And actually, version 2008 isn't the newest one that doesn't require registration, because I'm using version 2012 now.

If I were close by and I had the funds i'd buy ya a drink for your sheer dedication. Regardless of whatever happens, I tip my hat to you for that and wish you the best of luck.

Thanks, but I may just tip my hat off and vomit into it if things keep going the way they are.

First I tried to install the Daemon Tools and it said that I can't run the installer because I don't have a new enough version of .NET... need I point out the irony?

Then I tried to get the Alcohol 52% free version from the official site and Norton says it's a virus. I don't know if it's just mistaken, but in any case, the file says it's a downloader, which implies that it will have to download during installation, which is the same problem I'm having in the first place!

I think I need some real alcohol now, and I don't even drink! By the way, why is it measured in %? Shouldn't it be called Alcohol 104 proof?

The other thing which I find disconcerting is the fact that as I've said, I was actually able to mount the file as a drive using WinCDEmu, and the installation didn't work, so wouldn't I probably get the same problem regardless of which program I use for mounting it, since the error doesn't seem to be in the mounting itself but the installation afterwards?

Well, back to the proverbial drawing board, which is about to become the smashing to pieces with tremendous rage board. I have a few more ideas to try, but then I don't know what to do!

I am fairly sure 2012 already had an expiration (I may try a VM install later to verify). You cannot simply reinstall (I know - I tried ;-)). there may be ways around it but it is not simple (nor legal). The same way you cannot easily bypass Windows activation.

Well, now I've tried it a bit more. This time I mounted it as a Blu-Ray drive instead of a DVD ROM but I got the same result. However, I tried it twice in a row and both times I was successfully able to install 8/137 components, whereas the previous time I only got 5. But I might have possibly selected different options (I think they were slightly different, because this time I selected NO additional stuff).



Anyway, I get to a phase in the installation that says:

Visual Studio 2015 Community with Updates

Acquiring: Microsoft Visual Studio Services Hub

Applying: Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x64) - 11.0.60610



At that point, the error that I'm getting is:

"A setup package is either missing or damaged"

And it refers me to this file:

V:\packages\vs_vshub\VsHub_Core.msi

V is the letter of the "drive" that represents the ISO file, and I checked this directory inside of that drive, and the .msi file is there! So I don't see why it can't find it or why it would think that it's damaged.

Should I try running the file directly, and if I do then will it not be required the next time I try to install, so that it will just skip it, and then maybe I could just manually run all the ones that it can't do automatically? Or might it cause a problem if I do it that way?