How to: Install Visual SourceSafe on a Client Machine

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You can install Visual SourceSafe client software on either the server machine or a client machine. A Visual SourceSafe license for each client machine is required for installation. For more information, see Requirements for Installing Visual SourceSafe.

A custom installation on the client machine is almost the same as a custom installation on the server machine, described in How to: Install Visual SourceSafe on the Server Machine. The following table lists the options that you can select for a client installation.

  • Administrative Programs
    Installs the Visual SourceSafe Administrator program and maintenance utilities.
  • Client Programs
    Installs Visual SourceSafe Explorer and the command line utility.
  • Help files
    Installs the Visual SourceSafe Help files.

If you already have an older version of Visual SourceSafe installed on the client computer, the Setup program upgrades your current installation to the latest software version. During the installation procedure, you can just click Yes when you are asked to upgrade.

If you experience problems or unexpected behavior while using Visual SourceSafe, you can repair your current installation by removing Visual SourceSafe software and then reinstalling it. For more information, see How to: Uninstall Visual SourceSafe.

To install Visual SourceSafe client software:

  1. Check with the database administrator to ensure that the Visual SourceSafe server and database(s) are installed and ready for operation. If using a SourceSafe plug-in, for example, the SourceSafe Internet plug-in for Visual Studio, make sure that the required service has been configured on the server machine. See Adding and Configuring a Database.

  2. Verify that your computer meets all the client hardware and software requirements described in Requirements for Installing Visual SourceSafe.

  3. If you want to use Visual SourceSafe within a third-party program, for example, Visual Studio, ensure that the correct version of that program is installed on your computer.

  4. Insert the Visual SourceSafe CD in the CD-ROM drive of the computer.

  5. Double-click Setup.exe, and follow the instructions in the Setup wizard.

  6. When prompted to select the installation type, click Custom, and select the items that you want to install.

  7. When the installation is complete, you can log into Visual SourceSafe Explorer and use the database, as described in Managing Your Team Using Visual SourceSafe or Performing Basic Visual SourceSafe Tasks.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Uninstall Visual SourceSafe
How to: Install Visual SourceSafe on the Server Machine

Concepts

Adding and Configuring a Database
Requirements for Installing Visual SourceSafe

Other Resources

Managing Your Team Using Visual SourceSafe
Performing Basic Visual SourceSafe Tasks