KB00085 - Error about side-by-side configuration being incorrect

When you try to install, or run a Zhorn Software app you get an error message:

The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail.

Fix

Explanation

My software, including Stickies and Caffeine are written in Visual Studio 2008, and they use MFC. The exe files which this compiler produces are reliant on some library files which can be found either already in Windows, or at the above link. If you're interested, they can be found at the path c:\windows\winsxs in these subdirectories (for 32-bit):

x86_Microsoft.VC90.CRT_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.4148_x-ww_d495ac4e x86_Microsoft.VC90.MFCLOC_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.4148_x-ww_15fc9313 x86_Microsoft.VC90.MFC_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.4148_x-ww_a57c1f53

Depending on the version of Windows you're using, the reason for their absence is different:

In case the above link doesn't work for you, try this slightly different one instead:

Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update