Cannot open include file: 'stdio.h' - Visual Studio Community 2017 - C++ Error

Question

I am trying to build a solution on Visual Studio Community 2017, but I keep getting the error "Cannot open include file: 'stdio.h' ".

I've read through several similar questions, but I still can't fix this problem. It looks like the stdio.h file is called in the stdafx.h file. Below are more details. Any suggestions?

System details:

• Windows 10
• Visual Studio Community 2017 v.15.2 (26430.6) -- Installed Desktop Development with C++ (Screenshot: Installation list)

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Step 1: I wrote the famous Hello, World! program in C++.

#include "stdafx.h" #include <iostream>  using namespace std;  int main() {     cout << "Hello, World!" << endl;     return 0; } 

Step 2: I clicked on Build → Build Solution.

Problem: 'stdio.h': No such file or directory. Full Error:

1>------ Build started: Project: HelloWorld, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------ 1>stdafx.cpp 1>c:\users\dahiana mini\desktop\learncpp\helloworld\helloworld\stdafx.h(10):     fatal error C1083: Cannot open include file: 'stdio.h': No such file or directory 1>Done building project "HelloWorld.vcxproj" -- FAILED. ========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ========== 

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Troubleshooting details and things I've tried:

1. Configuration Properties* → VC++ Directories Include Directories $(VC_IncludePath);$(WindowsSDK_IncludePath);

2. Screenshot: Solution Explorer (files in the project)

3. Code in stdafx.cpp file:

   // stdafx.cpp : source file that includes just the standard includes // HelloWorld.pch will be the pre-compiled header // stdafx.obj will contain the pre-compiled type information  #include "stdafx.h"  // TODO: reference any additional headers you need in STDAFX.H // and not in this file 

4. Code in stdafx.h file:

   // stdafx.h : include file for standard system include files, // or project specific include files that are used frequently, but // are changed infrequently  #pragma once  #include "targetver.h" #include <stdio.h> #include <tchar.h> 

   NOTE: the #include for <stdio.h> and <tchar.h> both have the red squiggle line underneath, and says "cannot open source file".

   Tried: I tried removing the last two lines, but then I got more errors.

5. Tried: Since many suggested that stdafx.h is not required, I tried removing just the first line, #include "stdafx.h". But in order for this to work I had to do a little more. See the answer below.

Answer 1

Faced the problem of missing stdlib.h and stdio.h (and maybe more) after installing VS2017 Community on a new computer and migrating a solution from VS2013 to VS2017.

Used @Maxim Akristiniy's proposal, but still got error message regarding toolset compatibility. However VS itself suggested to do solution retarget by right-clicking on the solution in Solution Explorer, then selecting Retarget solution from the menu and the updated Windows SDK Version from the drop-down list.

Now my projects build w/o a problem.

Note that you may need to make the project your startup project for the retargeting to catch.

Answer 2

I got same problem with a project porting from Visual Studio 2013 to Visual Studio 2017.

Fix: change Properties → General → Windows SDK Version to 10