windows.h not found...

WOW, I can't believe this information isn't easier to find. I downloaded and installed Visual C++ 2005 Express, and then downloaded and installed the Platform SDK SP2. NOTHING WORKS! The Directories are not found and there is no apparent way to set them. Apparently users have found a hack to make it work, but this is crazy. It seems like the first Microsoft person to install this would notice that it doesn't work and would raise the flag to the appropriate people so they can take the steps to fix it for their users. Or at least document it on the very first page where it is downloaded, or the very first page of the documentation. A user shouldn't have to hit forums to find out how to make a product work.
Sorry, I'm not usually one to complain, and I am a big fan of Microsoft. I guess I'm just hoping they will fix this or let us know what happened.
I don't understand why I have to copy those directories and why I can't just correct whatever file is pointing to them. I went to those weird config files and changed them to point to my directories, but it still cannot find windows.h. Any ideas

John

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windows.h not found...

Sabyasachi
The easiest procedure to use the PSDK with VC2005 Express is:

1. Create a directory "PlatformSDK" under "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC"
2. Copy the "bin", "include" and "lib" directory from the PSDK-installation into this directory.

Then you do not need to change any config file.

Newest PSDK-ISO is available at:
```
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx FamilyId=D8EECD75-1FC4-49E5-BC66-9DA2B03D9B92 
```
```
-- Greetings Jochen My blog about Win32 and .NET http://blog.kalmbachnet.de/
```
Adrian Brown
I had a problem where I cant find some major dll's and header files on my NEW WINDOWS INSTALL with beta 2. Beta 1 worked fine, but beta 2 could not wind mscorbill.dll nor windows.h
MyNameHere
The bunk stops here...if I'm going to waste my time, I'll waste it on compiling in cygwin.
Erwin van Hunen
I am disappointed. A waste of time.
Sasikumar
I guess that's understandable...
RRoss
Well, it seems this product got more bugs and missing lib's then what is realy can do.
Dan Rowley
The are a couple of things that you need to remember about the Express Edition:

1) It is a starter product: the "typical" customer we foresee for the Visual C++ Express Edition is a student who is interested in learning C++.

2) It is a product that you download: therefore even in these days of broadband we needed to keep down the size of the product.

Combine these two statements and you see why we didn't include the Platform SDK - it was just too big. As Ayman, and many other people, have pointed out you can, if you really want the PSDK, then you can download it separately. While there were issues with the integration of the PSDK with the Beta-2 release of the Visual C++ Express Edition these have been fixed with the final Whidbey release.
Ohako
For using the PSDK headers with the express SKU, please take a look at http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/visualc/usingpsdk/default.aspx

Hope this is helpful!

Thanks,
Ayman Shoukry
VC++ Team
Darrel Miller
"A decision was made long ago by the team that Visual C++ Express (a free product) cannot be used for native Windows development out of the box. It can only be used for .NET/CLR development. "

And I made the decision to drop Visual C++ Express upon reading this shocking information
Patience404
Hi!
I had a problem where I cant find some major dll's and header files on my NEW WINDOWS INSTALL with beta 2. Beta 1 worked fine, but beta 2 could not wind mscorbill.dll nor windows.h
What edition of Beta2 Express-Edition
See: http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn/ShowPost.aspx PostID=2995
```
-- 
Greetings
 Jochen Kalmbach
 Microsoft MVP VC++

  My blog about Win32 and .NET
  http://blog.kalmbachnet.de/
  
PS: Please mark an answer as "answered" if it helped!!!
```
Amar13
HI,

I also get problems with windows.h file in Visual C++ Express

I have done all the fixes in this and the other thread

Here is my evil error,

------ Build started: Project: Brainiac 2, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------

Compiling...

Bitmap.cpp

c:\documents and settings\shaun fraser\desktop\tutorails\c++\visualcpp\chap12\brainiac 2\bitmap.h(11) : fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'windows.h': No such file or directory

Brainiac.cpp

c:\documents and settings\shaun fraser\desktop\tutorails\c++\visualcpp\chap12\brainiac 2\brainiac.h(11) : fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'windows.h': No such file or directory

GameEngine.cpp

c:\documents and settings\shaun fraser\desktop\tutorails\c++\visualcpp\chap12\brainiac 2\gameengine.h(11) : fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'windows.h': No such file or directory

Sprite.cpp

c:\documents and settings\shaun fraser\desktop\tutorails\c++\visualcpp\chap12\brainiac 2\sprite.h(11) : fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'windows.h': No such file or directory

Generating Code...

Build log was saved at "file://c:\Documents and Settings\shaun fraser\Desktop\Tutorails\C++\VisualCPP\Chap12\Brainiac 2\Debug\BuildLog.htm"

Brainiac 2 - 4 error(s), 0 warning(s)

========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========
davenci
A decision was made long ago by the team that Visual C++ Express (a free product) cannot be used for native Windows development out of the box. It can only be used for .NET/CLR development.

For native apps, the only choice is to do a separate 500 megabyte download of the Platform SDK, or order the Platform SDK CD from Microsoft.

Another thing is you cannot do MFC or ATL development, I suggest you try Microsoft WTL instead, a free download (although I'm not sure if this works on its own without ATL)
David Harrison_ch
The solution posted by Jochen Kalmbach seems to be easier than the instructions about how to change all the config files.
Vanpelt
visual C++ EE isn't compiling typical students homework.
windows.h not found...

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