fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file 'kernel32.lib' in Visual Studio 2019

Question

I'm using Visual Studio 2019 and I got an error even my PATH has kernel32.lib path.

 C:\Users\googi\Desktop\CMakeProject2\out\build\x64-debug\CMakeProject2\LINK : fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file 'kernel32.lib'
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.

PATH...

c:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Lib\10.0.19041.0\um\x86

And if I try to run on Command Prompt, it says...

This file does not have an app associated with it for performing 
this action. Please install an app or, if one already installed,
create an association in the Defalt Apps Setting page.

I tried other these 3 paths but it gave me exact same errors.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Lib\10.0.19041.0\um\arm
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Lib\10.0.19041.0\um\arm64
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Lib\10.0.19041.0\um\x64

Linker dependencies like libs don't go in `PATH`. `PATH` is for executables. — Etienne de Martel, Aug 07 '22 at 03:26

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 08 '22 at 02:32

About your case, I suggest you check these things below:

Check if you have installed the Windows SDK for your version.
Check if $(WindowsSdkDir)\lib is included in the directories list, if not, manually add it.
Check if the value of WindowsSdkDir is correct.

fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file 'kernel32.lib' in Visual Studio 2019

1 Answers1