C++ Same code but not working WinAPI

Question

I'm a little bit confused with that, but I cant understand why one code is working and another isn't.. Seems like it's the same, but largest one cathes and error in the string with calling function "GetFileAttributes". The first code is not working.

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
#include <Windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>

using namespace std;


int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[]) {
    if (argc < 2){
        char answer;
        do
        {
            cout << "You didn't type in the path to the file. Do you want to do it now? [y/n]" << endl;
            cin >> answer;
        } while (!cin.fail() && answer != 'y' && answer != 'Y' && answer != 'n' && answer != 'N');
        cin.clear();
        if (answer == 'N' || answer == 'n'){
            return 0;
        }
        printf("%s", "Type in the path to the file\n");
        scanf("%s", (argv + 1));
    }
    //LPCWSTR l = (LPCWSTR) (argv+1);
    DWORD d = GetFileAttributes(argv[1]);
    printf("%s", "Attrbiutes for this file are\n");
    if (d == INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES){
        printf("%s", "Invalid attributes\n");
    }
    if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ARCHIVE){
        printf("%s", "Archive\n");
    }
    if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_COMPRESSED){
        printf("%s", "Compressed\n");
    }
    if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY){
        printf("%s", "Directory\n");
    }
    if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_HIDDEN){
        printf("%s", "Hidden\n");
    }
    if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY){
        printf("%s", "Read-only\n");
    }
    _getch();
    return 0;
}

Here is the working one

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <Windows.h>
#include <iostream>
#include <conio.h>

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    DWORD x = GetFileAttributes(argv[1]);

    if (x == INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES)
    {
        std::cout << "error" << std::endl;
        return 0;
    }

    if (x & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ARCHIVE)
    {
        std::cout << "archive" << std::endl;
    }

    if (x & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_HIDDEN)
    {
        std::cout << "hidden" << std::endl;
    }

    if (x & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY)
    {
        std::cout << "read only" << std::endl;
    }

    if (x & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_SYSTEM)
    {
        std::cout << "system" << std::endl;
    }

    if (x & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TEMPORARY)
    {
        std::cout << "temporary" << std::endl;
    }
    _getch();
    return 0;
}

Answer 1

This is not the right way to use argv. DO NOT MODIFY IT. Treat it as read-only. Use a separate variable to hold the filename, prompting the user to populate that variable if needed, and then use the variable instead of argv when using the filename.

Also, new OS version introduce new file attributes, which you are not taking into account. You should output all attributes, even ones you do not recognize.

Also, you should stop mixing C and C++ I/O. Pick one or the other and be consistent with it.

Try something more like this:

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <Windows.h>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    std::string filename;
    char ch;

    if (argc >= 2)
    {
        filename = argv[1];
    }
    else
    {
        do
        {
            std::cout << "You didn't provide a path to the file. Do you want to type it now? [y/n]" << std::endl;
            if (!(std::cin >> ch))
                return 0;
        }
        while ((ch != 'y') && (ch != 'Y') && (ch != 'n') && (ch != 'N'));
        if ((ch == 'N') || (ch == 'n'))
            return 0;
        cin.clear();
        do
        {
            std::cout << "Type in the path to the file" << std::endl;
            if (!std::getline(std::cin, filename))
                return 0;
        }
        while (filename.empty());
    }

    DWORD d = GetFileAttributesA(filename.c_str());
    std::cout << "Attributes for file: " << filename << std::endl;

    if (d == INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES)
    {
        std::cout << "Invalid attributes" << std::endl;
    }
    else
    {
        if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ARCHIVE)
        {
            std::cout << "Archive" << std::endl;
            d &= ~FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ARCHIVE;
        }
        if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_COMPRESSED)
        {
            std::cout << "Compressed" << std::endl;
            d &= ~FILE_ATTRIBUTE_COMPRESSED;
        }
        if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)
        {
            std::cout << "Directory" << std::endl;
            d &= ~FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY;
        }
        if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_HIDDEN)
        {
            std::cout << "Hidden" << std::endl;
            d &= ~FILE_ATTRIBUTE_HIDDEN;
        }
        if (d & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY)
        {
            std::cout << "Read-only" << std::endl;
            d &= ~FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY;
        }
        if (d != 0)
        {
            std::cout << "Other: " << std::hex << std::showbase << std::setw(8) << std::setfill('0') << d << std::endl;
        }
    }

    std::cout << "Press a key to exit" << std::endl;
    std::cin >> ch;

    return 0;
}