Be sure to download your [free copy] of .Net 2.0 Express Edition 2005 from [MSDN] while you can. Also, you’ll need the [Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86)]. Additional info: [Visual C++ with the Platform SDK].
Backup of steps, in case they disappear off the face of this earth:
Using Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition with the Microsoft Platform SDK
By Brian Johnson,
Microsoft Corporation
You
can use Visual C++ Express to build powerful .NET Framework
applications immediately after installation. In order to use Visual C++
Express to build Win32 applications, you’ll need to take just a few
more steps. I’ll list the steps necessary for building Win32
applications using Visual C++ Express.
Step 1: Install Visual C++ Express.
If you haven’t done so already, install Visual C++ Express.
Step 2: Install the Microsoft Platform SDK.
Install the Platform SDK over the Web from the Download Center. Follow the instructions and install the SDK for the x86 platform.
Step 3: Update the Visual C++ directories in the Projects and Solutions section in the Options dialog box.
Add the paths to the appropriate subsection:
Executable files: C:Program FilesMicrosoft Platform SDKBin
Include files: C:Program FilesMicrosoft Platform SDKinclude
Library files: C:Program FilesMicrosoft Platform SDKlib
Note: Alternatively, you can update the Visual C++ Directories by modifying the
VCProjectEngine.dll.express.config file located in the vcvcpackages subdirectory of the Visual C++
Express install location. Please make sure that you also delete the file “vccomponents.dat” located in the
“%USERPROFILE%Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftVCExpress8.0” if it exists before restarting
Visual C++ Express Edition.
Step 4: Update the corewin_express.vsprops file.
One
more step is needed to make the Win32 template work in Visual C++
Express. You need to edit the corewin_express.vsprops file (found in
C:Program FilesMicrosoft Visual Studio 8VCVCProjectDefaults) and
Change the string that reads:
AdditionalDependencies=”kernel32.lib” to
AdditionalDependencies=”kernel32.lib
user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib
ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib”
Step 5: Generate and build a Win32 application to test your paths.
In
Visual C++ Express, the Win32 Windows Application type is disabled in
the Win32 Application Wizard. To enable that type, you need to edit the
file AppSettings.htm file located in the folder
“%ProgramFiles%Microsoft Visual Studio
8VCVCWizardsAppWizGenericApplicationhtml1033″.
In a text editor comment out lines 441 – 444 by putting a // in front of them as shown here:
// WIN_APP.disabled = true;
// WIN_APP_LABEL.disabled = true;
// DLL_APP.disabled = true;
// DLL_APP_LABEL.disabled = true;
Save and close the file and open Visual C++ Express.
From
the File menu, click New Project. In the New Project dialog box, expand
the Visual C++ node in the Product Types tree and then click Win32.
Click on the Win32 Console Application template and then give your
project a name and click OK. In the Win32 Application Wizard dialog
box, make sure that Windows application is selected as the Application
type and the ATL is not selected. Click the Finish button to generate
the project.
As a final step, test your
project by clicking the Start button in the IDE or by pressing F5. Your
Win32 application should build and run.