Cannot run Visual Studio 2012 remote debugger on Windows Server 2008

Question

I'm trying to run the Visual Studio 2012 remote debugger on a Windows Server 2008 x86 (not R2) virtual machine, but I can't get past the "Remote Debugging Configuration" screen as the Windows Web Services API fails to install with the following message

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Visual Studio Remote Debugging Monitor
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The Windows Web Services installer failed to execute. The installer exited with error 'Data of this type is not supported.'.
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OK   
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The only thing that I have to go on are these two posts

• http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vssetup/thread/5f6f20e5-67a7-43a3-a12f-42e1ef5dfec4#7ed3da49-5ba2-4cce-8ba7-889c5f273294
• http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vssetup/thread/59cd9a67-d549-4169-906b-0bd95030011c

Which seem to indicate that the problem is simply that this update can't be downloaded from anywhere. I've also tried to download these manually, however the only source I've found is this which states that my company has to agree to some terms first, which is obviously a little too much effort just to get remote debugging working.

How can I get remote debugging working on a Windows Server 2008 (non-R2) machine?

Update: I have raised this on Microsoft Connect

Answer 1

There is a (somewhat long-winded) workaround for this issue.

1. If not already, install "Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB971644)" from Window Update (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971644?wa=wsignin1.0). It will install KB971512, KB971513, and KB960362 in "Control Panel -> Programs and Features -> Installed Updates".

2. Install Windows Live Essentials from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=255474

A dependency of the Live Essentials will install the WWS update that is required.

Hopefully this gets you unblocked until the issue can be fixed properly.