Microsoft has released Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Compiler Update for Windows SDK 7.1 to fix an issue introduced by Visual Studio 2010 SP1.

This update to  Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4 (Windows SDK 7.1) is now available in the Microsoft Download Center. It addresses the issue where Visual C++ Compilers and libraries that are installed with the Windows SDK are removed when Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1 is installed.

The Read Me has the following instructions:

To ensure that your system has a supported configuration, uninstall the following products and then reinstall them in the order listed:

1. Visual Studio 2010
2. Windows SDK 7.1
3. Visual Studio 2010 SP1
4. Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Compiler Update for the Windows SDK 7.1

It also notes that the Compiler Update cannot be silently installed and there is no workaround. The Read Me does have solutions to other issues and is worth reading before you proceed.

More information is available here.

Further reading

Visual Studio 2010 SP1 and improvements