BUG: "Error Spawning 'cl.exe'" Error Occurs When You Build a Visual C++ .NET Application (816827)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ .NET (2003)
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET (2003)
  • Microsoft Visual Basic .NET (2003)

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Visual C# .NET (2003) or Visual Basic .NET (2003), and Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Developer Edition are installed on the same computer. When you try to build or debug a Managed C++ application, a console application, or an MFC application after you remove Visual C# .NET (2003) or Visual Basic .NET (2003), you may receive the following error message:
Error: Error spawning 'cl.exe'.
You cannot build or debug the Visual C++ .NET applications.

CAUSE

When you remove Visual C# .NET (2003) or Visual Basic .NET (2003), the cl.exe and c2.dll files in the Vc7\bin directory are deleted.

RESOLUTION

Repair or reinstall the English version of Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Developer Edition.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION


Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

To reproduce this behavior, use one of the following scenarios:

Scenario 1

  1. Install the English version of Visual C# .NET (2003) to the default path.
  2. Install the English version of Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Developer Edition to the default path.
  3. Remove the English version of Visual C# .NET (2003).
  4. In Visual Studio .NET, create a Managed C++ Application project, a Console Application project, or an MFC Application project.
  5. Build the application. You may receive the error message that the "Symptoms" section describes.

Scenario 2

  1. Install the English version of Visual Basic .NET (2003) to the default path.
  2. Install the English version of Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Developer Edition to the default path.
  3. Remove the English version of Visual Basic .NET (2003).
  4. In Visual Studio .NET, create a Managed C++ Application project, a Console Application project, or an MFC Application project.
  5. Build or debug the application. You may receive the error message that the "Symptoms" section describes.

Scenario 3

  1. Install the Japanese version of Visual C++ .NET (2003) to the default path.
  2. Install the English version of Visual C++ .NET (2003) to the default path.
  3. Remove the English version of Visual C++ .NET (2003).
  4. In the Japanese version of Visual C++ .NET (2003), create a Managed C++ Application project, or an MFC Application project.
  5. Build or debug the application. You may receive the error message that the "Symptoms" section describes.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/22/2003
Keywords:kbide kbsetup kbbug KB816827 kbAudDeveloper
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