How to build for XP in Visual Studio 2017?

I tried to follow Configuring Programs for Windows XP, but I have no General option under Configuration Properties. I installed Desktop development with C++ and Windows XP support for C++.

Hrvoje T

Posted 2018-06-09T22:44:32.483

Reputation: 1 809

The project is in C# – Hrvoje T – 2018-06-10T08:00:45.283

Because I'm beginner and I always had problems with visualc++ dll's when building python projects for XP. So, it's that simple, just to install .net 3.5 and use it in my project – Hrvoje T – 2018-06-11T07:40:23.300

I can't find .net 3.5 sdk or 4.03 which is how I read latest supported on XP. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/install/on-windows-xp Do I need sdk or runtime for vs? https://www.microsoft.com/net/download/all

– Hrvoje T – 2018-06-11T20:50:07.580

Ok, I figured it out. In VS 2017 I used .net4 which is the lowest version you can use in VS2017 by default. Then I installed .net4 in WinXp from here https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/Download/confirmation.aspx?id=17718 and the app compiled in x64 Win10 in VS2017 and succesfuly run in 32bit WinXP SP3.

– Hrvoje T – 2018-06-12T05:49:26.630

No need to delete them. Your comments helped me ;) Thanks – Hrvoje T – 2018-06-12T06:09:49.153

Answers

I found a solution how to compile C# project in Visual Studio 2017 on Windows 10 for Windows XP. In VS2017 go to Solution Explorer and right click on your project. Go to properties and under Application menu choose .NET Framework 4 under Target framework. This is the lowest version you can select in VS2017 installed by default.

I thought that the latest .NET framework working on XP was 3.5. However, I was wrong. Here at Microsoft docs it says:

.NET Framework 4.0.3 The .NET Framework 4.0.3 is the latest supported .NET Framework version on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. The .NET Framework 4.0.3 requires that the .NET Framework 4 is installed first. Both of these .NET Framework versions are no longer supported by Microsoft.

.NET Framework 4 You can install the .NET Framework 4 on Windows XP. It's no longer supported by Microsoft.

I compiled the project with .NET 4 framework and it didn't work by default on XP. It complained abount not being a valid application without offering to install newer .NET4.

After that I googled .net4 for xp and found a file dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe here. Installed it on XP machine and my project exe file worked on 32-bit XP SP3 while being compiled on Win10 VS2017 64-bit.

Hrvoje T

Posted 2018-06-09T22:44:32.483

Reputation: 1 809