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Setup.exe is not a valid Win32 application

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You would receive the below error message while running a ClickOnce bootstrapper created using Visual Studio 2012 on Windows XP systems.

 

 

 

 

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Clickonce bootstrapper engine (setup.exe) that was shipped with Visual Studio 2012 is NOT compatible with any OS below Windows Vista. So, the above error message is expected and by design. The reason for this behavior is because the bootstrapper is compiled using the VC compiler and the Dev11 VC compiler does not support Windows XP.

 

 

So the workaround is to install all the prerequisites manually and launch the ClickOnce application directly from deployment manifest file (.application). Another workaround would be to create a sample ClickOnce application using Visual Studio 2010 OR Visual Studio 2008 with the same name as mentioned in Visual Studio 2012 and publish it. From the published location take the setup.exe bootstrapper and replace the existing setup.exe bootstrapper created using Visual Studio 2012

 

 

Microsoft VC development team has done work to make VC compilers work on Windows XP in Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 CTP 3 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34818 This Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 CTP 3 patch provides an opportunity to users in building VS2012 C++ project for Win XP OS. For the users who want to develop their applications using Dev11 VC compiler (v110) for Windows XP OS, would need to install Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 CTP 3 patch.

 

 

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 The above issue was resolved in the recent release of CTP 4. Please install the latest patch Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 CTP 4 https://download.microsoft.com/download/1/D/4/1D49D964-DCEC-4BCA-941A-68C6614E9613/vsupdate_KB2707250.exe This would allow ClickOnce bootstrapper to run on Windows XP systems.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    October 28, 2012
    My project is not a VC project, will installing Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 CTP 3 solves the ClickOnce setup.exe on XP problem?

  • Anonymous
    November 06, 2012
    This issue is already resolved. Please install the latest patch Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 CTP 4 download.microsoft.com/.../vsupdate_KB2707250.exe

  • Anonymous
    November 20, 2012
    How can this problem be overcome for a solution created in VB?

  • Anonymous
    November 21, 2012
    Does anyone know how this issue can be solved when a project is created using VB in VS12? ive done the CTP 4 update and rebuild the solution, but still no go...am i doing something wrong?

  • Anonymous
    November 26, 2012
    This issue was already resolved in Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 CTP 4 patch. You may have a different issue. Try executing the same setup.exe on another Windows XP system.

  • Anonymous
    January 27, 2013
    Does it only work for c++? The application I want to run on XP is C#. Thank you

  • Anonymous
    January 27, 2013
    The above scenario doesn't impact managed applications. So your C# application would work on WIndows XP till .Net Framework 4.0. The .Net Framework 4.5 is NOT supported on Windows XP.

  • Anonymous
    February 12, 2013
    Dear Writer, How to access the displayed picture? My VS2012 is up to date. I could not just figure out how to change platform toolset. Thanks

  • Anonymous
    February 12, 2013
    Go to project properties page of C++ project in Visual Studio ( By Right Clicking on project properties from Solution Explorer). Then look at  under "Configuration Properties"  dialog.

  • Anonymous
    March 03, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    March 04, 2013
    The above scenario doesn't impact managed applications. So your VB.Net application would work on WIndows XP till .Net Framework 4.0. The .Net Framework 4.5 is NOT supported on Windows XP.

  • Anonymous
    December 05, 2013
    when i am starting my computer it is not opening properly and it says not system device change it so , what should i do?