If you're concerned about disk space or want to manually clean up project directories, you can use alternative methods:
In exclusive mode:
: Visual Studio 2012 is no longer in mainstream support, and most modern developers have migrated to Visual Studio 2022 or the upcoming Visual Studio 2026. vsprecleanvsexe visual studio 2012 exclusive
Demystifying vs_preclean_vs.exe in Visual Studio 2012: The Hidden Pre-Installation Sentinel If you're concerned about disk space or want
: It was notably included in "MSDN Disc 5095" and various Developer Preview releases for Visual Studio 2012. Common Issues and Solutions which use a unified
Unlike modern versions of Visual Studio (like Visual Studio 2022 ), which use a unified, highly optimized , older versions like 2012 relied on individual setup scripts and preparation tools.