Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Express installation/run problems

Question

I am running windows 7 and I am trying to get this IDE to work and I am have an incredibly frustrating time making it work.

I am following these instructions

Quick guide:

1. File > New > Project
2. Select "Win32 Console Application"
3. Enter a name and location, select OK
4. In the Win32 Application Wizard under "Application Settings", select "Console Application" and select "Empty project".
5. Click Finish.
6. On the right (or left) hand pane should be Solution Explorer. Open it and right click on the "Source Files" folder and Add > Add New Item.
7. Select C++ file (.cpp)
8. Write code, hit F5 to start with debugging, ctrl+f5 to start without debugging.

After step 4 I get the error, "The platform root directory "E:..........\\MSBuild\\Microsoft.cpp\\v4.0\\Platforms" does not exist.

What do I do? I installed it in my E drive, maybe what it wants is on my C drive? It is not possible for me to install it there though because I am using a SSD for my C drive.

Update, I have tried to uninstall and reinstall and then clear my temp folder and then reinstall and then uninstall with the uninstall utility and then reboot and the reinstall and none of that works.

I turning off my firewall and antivirus and installing and running and that did not help at all. Next I am going to format my hard drives and try and install again.

I tried installing the ultimate version and I had the same problem. I have no idea what to do, it seems like I am out of options.

Any ideas?

My best guess now is that I have to manually install the missing files somehow, where can I find those?

I installed Dev C++ and it works fine, should I just continue using this (as far as I can tell superior program) or try and fix Express?

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Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Express

The platforms root directory "E:\\Program Files (x86)\\MSBuild\\Microsoft.Cpp\\v4.0\\Platforms" does not exist.

OK
--------------------------- The microsoft.cpp part is missing but it exists in the C drive. I copied that over to the E drive and now when I open a project I get a blank screen, if I open older ones it says I need .net framework 4.0 which I do have.

This has to be the worst program I have ever had to deal with, I have played video games in beta that worked better than that.

I think I got this working, I am not sure though.

It appears to be working but I get some strange errors, I am just going to accept this because at least now after an entire weekend I can begin my homework.

Answer 1

Since - as you've pointed out - you've already reinstalled VC++ and nothing seems to work and you've tried everything - you may also try this (if you've not given up yet):

1. you may try trial version of full visual studio VS2010 trial
2. you may try to install your VS express on friends PC on 'non-C' drive
3. perform antivirus check of your system
4. after installing full version - install service pack ( VS SP )
5. ensure you uninstall all (if any) prior versions of VC, VB, VC# or visual studion that you may have
6. always reboot after installation

If (1) works this may suggest your VS express is somehow corrupted (would be weird to be able install it than - but I've seen so many weird things that I may believe it ;-) If (2) works this may suggest your PC/OS is causing problems.

Let me/us know if any of above helps.

Answer 2

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/69925677-8a07-46a4-8b0e-c9ddef17a7af/visual-studio-2010-fails-in-c-trying-to-set-the-references-parameter?forum=vssetup

The solution in a similar case of installing VS2010 C# on a seperate drive was to copy the Reference Assemblies folder from C:\\Program Files to E:\\Program Files.

When I had the the same error as the poster above on VS2010 C++, when installing to a different drive, I did the same for the MSBuild Directory and the errors in VS2010 C++ disappeared.

It seems that Visual Studio installs/creates those directories on the same drive as windows 100% of the time, but the registry values still look for them on the same drive that you installed Visual Studio on.

Answer 3

1. I would uninstall and reinstall the whole thing rather than keep spinning your wheels. Honest!

2. Q: Your "E:" drive is a read-write drive, isn't it?

   Q: E: is the drive you installed to, correct?

   Q: Hopefully, E: is a normal disk drive, isn't it? If not (if it's a shared network drive, or a nice'n'slow USB drive), please consider installing VS2010 to a hard drive.

3. MSVS should not be hard to install or use. It takes awhile ... but it's usually pretty straightforward.

   If you've having problems, then I strongly urge you to 1) uninstall, 2) reboot, 3) reinstall.

IMHO...