Run code error: LINK : fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file 'kernel32.lib'

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#1

Hello, so I started in on section 2 of Unreal Engine C++ Developer: Learn C++ and Make Video Games and it wanted us to run a simple program such as the picture you see below

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After running the program it sends me an error such as : LINK : fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file ‘kernel32.lib’. After spending multiple hours on the web looking at solutions I still cannot find the cause of this error. Here are screenshots of everything I installed:

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I also doubled checked to make sure everything was up to date and it is. Any help would be useful, thank you.

#2

In the indivdual components tab, do you have the Universal C Runtime installed?

#3

Yes, I have Universal C Runtime installed. Here is a list of all the individual components that are installed:

  • .NET Framework 4.6 targeting pack
  • NuGet package manager
  • C# and Visual Basic Roslyn compilers
  • C++ 2019 Redistributable Update
  • MSVC v142 - VS 2019 C++ x64/x86 build tools (v14.26)
  • C++ AddressSanitizer (Experimental)
  • C++ profiling tools
  • C# and Visual Basic
  • C++ core features
  • IntelliCode
  • Graphics debugger and GPU profiler for DirectX
  • Visual Studio SDK
  • Windows 10 SDK (10.0.16299.0)
  • Windows Universal C Runtime
#4

Could you try restarting your PC and/or repairing Visual Studio?

#5

Just tried it and it gives the same error ( LINK : fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file ‘kernel32.lib’ ). I have even uninstalled and reinstalled the programs and it still does not effect it.

I have done some coding in other languages such as python and java, and I read that it can sometimes effect the path of finding ‘kernel32.lib’. However I am not really sure how to check that path or even if I did find the path I would not know what to change.

#6

Before checking if other things might be affecting it could you see if you actually do have it?

By default It should be in

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Lib\{exact version number}\um\x64

Also in the x86 directory.

#7

Just checked both file locations (x64 and x86) and they both have kernel32.lib

Here’s a screenshot of the files in their locations:

x64:

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x86:

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#8

Yup. I can confirm this is 100% strange.

In the developer command prompt do you see any Windows Kits path come up with?

echo %LIBPPATH%
#9

The only response I get is %LIBPPATH%

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#10

Well that’s not right. So could you show your environment variables?

#11

These are the variable I have:

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#12

Oh! my friend pointed out the %LIBPPATH% had an extra P, so when i removed it, it gave a response.

Here’s the response it got:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.26.28801\lib\x86;
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.26.28801\lib\x86\store\references;
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319;

#13

Having the same issue …
Actually, I don’t have kernel32.lib in the path that %libpath% is pointing to … What step of the installation did I mess up?

#14

Ha, I missed it too.

Yeah so that’s missing the library path for the Windows SDK. Did you try just uninstalling that component before or just the entire lot?

#15

I tried uninstalling the entire lot

#16

Could you try just the Windows SDK(s)? Might weirdly solve it :man_shrugging: ?

#17

Tried it and It didn’t change anything. I even tried installing a different version, uninstalling visual studios and windows SDK and then reinstalling SDK first, and running the install program as an administrator, all giving me the same result of not working.

#18

Are you able to use Visual Studio Community instead?

#19

Looking up on how to use it, not really sure how to run things in it yet but i’ll let you know if it works

#20

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