c++visual-studiovisual-studio-2017stdio

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

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:

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 ==========

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.

Solution

  • There are three ways to solve this issue.

    1. Ignore Precompiled Headers #1
      Steps: Project > Properties > Configuration Properties > C/C++ > Command Line > in the Additional Options box add /Y-. (Screenshot of Property Pages) > Ok > Remove #include "stdafx.h"
    2. Ignore Precompiled Headers #2
      Steps: File > New > Project > ... > In the Application Wizard Window click Next > Uncheck the Precompiled Header box > Finish > Remove #include "stdafx.h"

    3. Reinstall Visual Studio
      This also worked for me, because I realized that maybe there was something wrong with my Windows SDK. I was using Windows 10, but with Windows SDK 8.1. You may have this problem as well.
      Steps: Open Visual Studio Installer > Click on the three-lined Menu Bar > Uninstall > Restart your computer > Open Visual Studio Installer > Install what you want, but make sure you install only the latest Windows SDK 10, not multiple ones nor the 8.1.

      The first time I installed Visual Studio, I would get an error stating that I needed to install Windows SDK 8.1. So I did, through Visual Studio Installer's Modify option. Perhaps this was a problem because I was installed it after Visual Studio was already installed, or because I needed SDK 10 instead. Just to be safe I did a complete reinstall.