Newbe: Android Studio: Error:Execution failed for task ':app:processDebugManifest'

Question

I am new to Android Studio .

When I create a new project with Blank Activity , the application runs fine on my handset.

However when I create a new project with Navigation Drawer Activity , the application doesn't work and shows me the following:

1- Wherever R is located in the MainActivity.java , it is red-colored with the following message:

Cannot resolved symbol 'R'

2- In the Messages Gradle Build tab:

Error:Execution failed for task ':app:processDebugManifest'.

Error: [C:\\ ...\\app\\build\\intermediates\\exploded-aar\\com.android.support\\support-v4\\24.1.1\\AndroidManifest.xml:21] Invalid instruction 'overrideLibrary', valid instructions are : REMOVE,REPLACE,STRICT

Here is my AndroidManifest.xml :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.hwc.mst.mobilesharingtool" >

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
        <activity
            android:name="com.hwc.mst.mobilesharingtool.MainActivity"
            android:label="@string/app_name" >
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>

</manifest>

Here is what I did so far:

1- Build -> Clean project

2- Tool -> Android -> Sync Project with Gradle Files

3- Check in File -> Project Structure -> app -> Properties (Tab) that:

(i) Compile Sdk Version = API 24: Android 7.0, and ..

(ii) Build Tools Version = 21.1.1

Step 1, 2 & 3 didn't change a thing and still unable to run the app !

How to proceed from here to fix this problem ?!

Answer 1

I couldn't figure out what was the problem exactly. So, I did the following:

Step(1) : Uninstalled Android-studio completely from my machine (following Harry James's instructions )

Step(2) : Download and installed Android Studio again

Step(3) : There is no step 3

Now, everything works fine.

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PS: Big credit to @Aaron for the troubleshooting