fatal error LNK1220: 'resolving static reference symbol' requires '/WOWA64' specification

Tad Wegner 1

I'm running a batch file that first compiles a main.c file using cl.exe, then tries to generate main.exe by linking main.obj and some libraries. The first step, creating main.obj, seems to run without error, but the linking step throws this error (fatal error LNK1220: 'resolving static reference symbol' requires '/WOWA64' specification). I'd assume the solution is to add /WOWA64 to the list of options when cl is called in the makefile, but as far as I can tell, /WOWA64 doesn't exist. I can't find any information about it. I can't share the code, so I know finding an overall solution on this forum would be difficult, but can anyone at least explain what the /WOWA64 specification is?

RLWA32 45,236 Reputation points

2022-10-31T07:45:13.627+00:00

Are you attempting to build a 32-bit or 64 bit application?

If you create a console application project and use it with your main.c source file can it successfully build your application?
Minxin Yu 11,506 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-10-31T08:04:55.07+00:00

I did not find document about LNK1220. WOW64 provides the ability to run 32-bit applications on all Windows 64-bit systems. WOWA64 is probably WOW ARM64.
Anyway, MSDN lacks a description of this issue, you can make a request on Github.
RLWA32 45,236 Reputation points

2022-10-31T11:45:56.793+00:00

Perhaps you need to configure the command line build environment for your build and target architectures.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/building-on-the-command-line?view=msvc-170#developer_command_file_locations
Tad Wegner 1 Reputation point

2022-10-31T22:04:01.523+00:00

It's a 32-bit program running on a 64-bit computer. I initialize the environment by calling VsDevCmd.bat from the command line. I've also tried vsvars32.bat, but get the same result.

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