I have finally succeeded converting my desktop app to AppX with Desktop App Converter, and to sign it with the insight from Franklin Chen.
Step by step, I am getting closer to completion. But I am now bumping into a new hurdle (hopefully the last). I tried to follow the advice at https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vcblog/2016/07/07/using-visual-c-runtime-in-centennial-project/
I did install on my machine vc_uwpdesktop.110.exe, vc_uwpdesktop.120.exe and vc_uwpdesktop.140.exe.
But still not joy. When I try to install the AppX, I get this error message :
Ask the developer for a new app package. This
package may conflict with a package already
installed, or it depends on things not installed
here (package dependencies), or is made for a
different architecture (0x80073CF3)
20161015 - More information :
I tried to use add-appxpackage as instructed.
PS C:\Windows\system32> add-appxpackage –register C:\output\CheckWriterIII\PackageFiles\AppxManifest.xml
Here is the result on the command line :
add-appxpackage : Deployment failed with HRESULT: 0x80073CF3, Package failed updates, dependency or conflict validation. Windows cannot install package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt because this package depends on a framework that could not be found. Provide the framework "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" published by "CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US", with neutral or x86 processor architecture and minimum version 12.0.40652.5, along with this package to install. The frameworks with name "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" currently installed are: {} NOTE: For additional information, look for [ActivityId] 147c2bae-26c2-0005-268c-7c14c226d201 in the Event Log or use the command line Get-AppxLog -ActivityID 147c2bae-26c2-0005-268c-7c14c226d201 At line:1 char:1 + add-appxpackage –register C:\output\CheckWriterIII\PackageFiles\AppxM ... + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : WriteError: (C:\output\Check...ppxManifest.xml:String) [Add-AppxPackage], IOException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : DeploymentError,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.AddAppxPackageCommand
As instructed, I have fetched the log :
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-AppxLog -ActivityID 147c2bae-26c2-0005-268c-7c14c226d201
Time ID Message ---- -- ------- 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 301 The calling process is powershell.exe 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 603 Started deployment Register operation on a package with main parameter: AppxManifest.xml and Options: DevelopmentModeOption. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 10002 Creating Resiliency File C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\76c1ec66-a626-417f-be 73-95fd9ce4b88f_S-1-5-21-2501171662-860024267-76414939-1001_1.rslc for Register Operation on Package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM
607 Deployment Register operation on package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt has been de-queued and is running for user DESKTOP-V1EBBS5\mitch. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 613
Adding uri to the list of Uris: C:\output\CheckWriterIII\PackageFiles\AppxManifest.xml. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 628 Windows cannot install package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt because this package depends on a framework that could not be found. Provide the framework "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" published by "CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US", with neutral or x86 processor architecture and minimum version 12.0.40652.5, along with this package to install. The frameworks with name "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" currently installed are: {} 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 605 The last successful state reached was Indexed. Failure occurred before reaching the next state Resolved. hr: 0x80073CF3 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 401 Deployment Register operation with target volume C: on Package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt from: (AppxManifest.xml) failed with error 0x80073CF3. See http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=235160 for help diagnosing app deployment issues. 10/15/2016 5:41:58 PM 404 AppX Deployment operation failed for package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt with error 0x80073CF3. The specific error text for this failure is: Windows cannot install package CheckWriterIII_3.2.0.0_x86__eqr0y32pbpypt because this package depends on a framework that could not be found. Provide the framework "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" published by "CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US", with neutral or x86 processor architecture and minimum version 12.0.40652.5, along with this package to install. The frameworks with name "Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop" currently installed are: {}
Now I don't understand why it does not find Microsoft.VCLibs.120.00.UWPDesktop. I have downloaded and installed vc_uwpdesktop.120.exe 12.0.40653.00 and double verify it as not only in programs and features, but on the disk where it is supposed to be.