How to fix The system cannot find the file specified in Visual Studio 2022

I am having a similar issue as this post. However, on build I have 0 errors, 0 warning, and 0 messages.

I took a look at Project -> Properties but I do not seem to have a linker option (which appears to be a typical fix that others have used to solve this issue).

I have also tried Rebuilding Solution and then running but that does not seem to work either...

Based on the aforementioned similar issue I understand the premise that "when an exe cannot be created (or in my case - found)... then naturally it cannot be run as it does not exist". However, I do not understand where the disconnect is occurring that is preventing this file from either being found or created...

Any help sorting this out would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

I keep getting this error with these lines of code:

include 

int main()
    {

        cout << "Hello World" >>;
        system("pause");
        return 0;
    }

"The system cannot find the file specified"

asked Jul 30, 2013 at 12:15

Mr. SupashevaMr. Supasheva

1831 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges

4

The system cannot find the file specified usually means the build failed (which it will for your code as you're missing a # infront of include, you have a stray >> at the end of your cout line and you need std:: infront of cout) but you have the 'run anyway' option checked which means it runs an executable that doesn't exist. Hit F7 to just do a build and make sure it says '0 errors' before you try running it.

Code which builds and runs:

#include 

int main()
{
   std::cout << "Hello World";
   system("pause");
   return 0;
}

answered Jul 30, 2013 at 12:20

Mike VineMike Vine

8,63623 silver badges41 bronze badges

The code should be :

#include 
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "Hello World";
    return 0;
}

Or maybe :

#include 

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello World";
    return 0;
}

Just a quick note: I have deleted the system command, because I heard it's not a good practice to use it. (but of course, you can add it for this kind of program)

answered Jul 30, 2013 at 12:22

5

I had a same problem and this fixed it:

You should add:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1A\Lib\x64 for 64 bit system

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1A\Lib for 32 bit system

in Property Manager>Linker>General>Additional Library Directories

answered Sep 6, 2014 at 15:19

Another take on this that hasn't been mentioned here is that, when in debug, the project may build, but it won't run, giving the error message displayed in the question.

If this is the case, another option to look at is the output file versus the target file. These should match.

A quick way to check the output file is to go to the project's property pages, then go to Configuration Properties -> Linker -> General (In VS 2013 - exact path may vary depending on IDE version).

There is an "Output File" setting. If it is not $(OutDir)$(TargetName)$(TargetExt), then you may run into issues.

This is also discussed in more detail here.

answered Aug 19, 2016 at 15:18

Aaron ThomasAaron Thomas

4,8028 gold badges43 silver badges87 bronze badges

This is because you have not compiled it. Click 'Project > compile'. Then, either click 'start debugging', or 'start without debugging'.

answered Jan 1, 2014 at 13:11

1

I resolved this issue after deleting folder where I was trying to add the file in Visual Studio. Deleted folder from window explorer also. After doing all this, successfully able to add folder and file.

answered Jan 22, 2021 at 7:40

I was getting the error because of two things.

1. I opened an empty project

2. I didn't add #include "stdafx.h"

It ran successfully on the win 32 console.

answered Jul 30, 2013 at 13:12

Mr. SupashevaMr. Supasheva

1831 gold badge2 silver badges13 bronze badges

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