>I don't think they have to.
>You can without any problem copy a exe with the two runtime components to a computer (where it has not been installed) and everything works.
>Otherwise the VFP installer couldn't work too. It uses the same DLL's and is also a VFP program.
>Or it must have been changed since the last time i've seen it.

So, you have registry data but it is out-of-sync with the runtimes. Everything should use proper registry updates now, or else there can be problems. I know it is *possible* to run simple vfp apps without doing this, but a) it's standard Windows practice to update runtime registry entries for the OS to install/uninstall & run efficiently, and b) if there are activex, etc, you will encounter difficulties eventually. You may get away with a minor SP file-copy, but the more serious the upgrade, the more chance of trouble. There's no sense in doing things in a non-standard way, even if you can "get away" with it sometimes.

Also, my instincts tell me that before too long, VS-produced apps will not run without proper registration.