How to solve the "unresolved external symbol" link error in visual c++?

Question

I Have the Visual Studio C++ 2008 Express Edition.

I am trying to compile a program but I am getting the following Link Error:

1>MSVCRT.lib(wcrtexew.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _wWinMain@16

What I tried to do:

I found this on google:

For Visual C++ .NET: In the Advanced category of the Linker folder in the Project Properties dialog box, set the Entry Point to wWinMainCRTStartup.

It was intended to work but didn't. How do I compile this app?

The code is stupidly simple:

#include "stdafx.h"
int main( int argc, char ** argv )
{
}

Vinzenz · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-29T08:07:41.133

8

There are multiple ways to solve this:

Create a console application
Change the Subsystem console now in the linker settings ( Project Settings -> Linker -> System -> SubSystem (select Console))
Change the entry point in the linker settings to mainCRTStartup (Project Settings -> Linker -> Advanced -> Entry Point)
Define int CALLBACK WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance,HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,LPSTR lpCmdLine,int nCmdShow ); instead of int main(int argc, char const ** argv)
Change the Character Set to Use Unicode Character Set (Project Settings -> General->Character Set )

edited Sep 29 '15 at 08:07

answered Oct 14 '11 at 06:11

Vinzenz

Thanks. I tried the your 3rd option and It worked. About the number two, I didn't found the "Subsystem" option in Linker, advanced options, where is that? – Victor Oct 14 '11 at 06:16
Sorry my bad it is in Project Settings -> Linker -> System not in Project Settings -> Linker -> Advanced. I have corrected it in the post :) – Vinzenz Oct 14 '11 at 06:22
this is a nightmare – Khalil Al Hooti Sep 18 '18 at 12:11

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 14 '11 at 06:13

3

It looks like when you created your project you selected a GUI (Win32, MFC, etc) program. Those programs have a WinMain() instead of a main().

What you want is a Console project.

answered Oct 14 '11 at 06:13

Adam

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:53

1

According to similar questions, that error happens when main isn't defined.

Maybe for some reason it's compiling a different file?

This answer suggests that maybe your flags are inconsistent.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:53

Community

answered Oct 14 '11 at 06:09

Brendan Long

3 Answers3