Visual Studio 2013 error LNK1104: cannot open file 'kernel32.lib'

[alterecho]

I'm absolutely new to windows programming (and Visual studio). When i try to build any project (VC++ or WIN32), i get the error:

Visual Studio 2013 error LNK1104: cannot open file 'kernel32.lib'

Can someone please guide me in the right direction?

[Little Bobby Tables]

is your operating system 64 bit?

[alterecho]

I'm on a 32 bit system.

[modoran]

Is Windows SDK installed ? It does NOT came with Visual Studio Express version.

[alterecho]

There is a Micrsoft SDKs folder which contains a Kernel32.lib:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0A\Lib\Kernel32.lib

Is this the one?

[modoran]

Yes. But you are using VS2013 ?

[alterecho]

Yes, its VS2013.

[modoran]

So what platform toolset is your VS2013 setup to use ? v6.0 looks very old, I think VS2008 or 3005 use it by default.

To see go to project properties -> General -> Platform toolset. Also check "VC++ directories" If problems persists you can manually change "Library Directories" to match your configuration (not recommended, kernel32.lib must came from VS2013, not some old version, otherwise bad things could still happen)

[alterecho]

The platform toolset is set to:

Visual Studio 2013 (v120)

My "Library Directories" values have:

1. $(VC_LibraryPath_x86) has values:
     -- C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\VC\lib        (no kernel32.lib here)
     -- C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0\VC\atlmfc\lib  (i can't locate the atlmfc folder)

2. $(WindowsSDK_ExecutablePath_x86) -- The macro is not defined in the macros list!

[modoran]

Install windows SDK from here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/bg162891.aspx

A restart may be required.

[alterecho]

I just reinstalled VS2013, and all seems fine now. Thanks for the help.