Targeting Windows XP in MFC application using Visual Studio 2013/2015 onward

Question

I've created a simple MFC application through visual studio 2013 32-bit.
Then when tested on Windows XP I find it does not work, and display an error message the application is not a valid win32 application.

Note that the application works fine in Windows 7.

What's wrong ?

@LionKing : http://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/visual-studio-2013-compatibility-vs.aspx "Requires Visual Studio 2013 Update 2 or later." — willll, Nov 14 '14 at 20:54
@willll unfortunately that link doesn't have any information about how to configure a native C++ app for WinXP. It only claims it is possible. — Mark Ransom, Nov 14 '14 at 21:15
You might find an answer at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/20061248/compiled-a-c-program-in-visual-studio-professional-2013-will-not-work-with-wi. — Mark Ransom, Nov 14 '14 at 21:18

Lion King · Accepted Answer · 2021-06-05T11:19:43.783

2

For everyone who wants a direct solution, try to apply the following steps.

Steps:

Right-click on the project and select properties.
General.
Platform Toolset.
Select Visual Studio 2013 - Windows XP (v120_xp).

Also, you can see this MSDN article, Windows XP Targeting with C++ in Visual Studio 2012 for more help.

edited Jun 05 '21 at 11:19

answered Nov 14 '14 at 23:16

Lion King

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Thanks for posting this answer. Intel has an article, [Linking Applications using Visual Studio 2012 or later to Run on Windows XP](https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/linking-applications-using-visual-studio-2012-to-run-on-windows-xp) describing the same procedure. For Visual Studio 2012 it looks like a Service Pack is also needed. – Richard Chambers Mar 08 '16 at 18:06

Targeting Windows XP in MFC application using Visual Studio 2013/2015 onward

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