"cannot open source file" error

Vladimir Kolmogorov 0

I just installed Visual Studio 2022. I created a new empty project, added file "test.cpp" and tried to compile. It says "Cannot open source file ...\TEST.CPP". (Screenshots are here: test.pdf ). Following suggestions on internet, I installed "Windows SDK 10" and retargeted project. I have Windows 10 Pro (on a virtual machine). What am I doing wrong?

1 answer

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 29,446 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-07-17T08:35:53.2366667+00:00

Hello @Vladimir Kolmogorov ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

If you try to change to create a new project and save it in another directory, maybe in other drive, and then add a .cpp file, will the same error appear?

If the same error still appears, please try to close VS > open VS Installer > More > click Repair to repair VS. Also try to run devenv /ResetSettings in VS Developer Command Prompt to reset VS settings.

If the same error doesn’t appear, please check if there’s any limitation or special configuration on that drive/directory.

Besides, please try to run VS as administrator.

Best Regards,

Tianyu

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Vladimir Kolmogorov 0 Reputation points

2023-07-17T18:09:21.82+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Creating the project on the C: drive works. Here are the properties of the Z: drive: test2.pdf . I can read and write files on this drive without problems.

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 29,446 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-07-18T09:41:44.5033333+00:00

Hi @Vladimir Kolmogorov ,

If you try to uncheck this option => Tools => Options => Environment => Documents => Open file using directory of current active document, will the error disappear?

Besides, even if you run VS as administrator, this error persists?

Vladimir Kolmogorov 0 Reputation points

2023-07-18T11:36:17.2866667+00:00

Hello,

I tried unchecking this option, and also tried to run VS as administrator. Neither helped - I am getting the same error...

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 29,446 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-07-20T06:31:53.44+00:00

Hi @Vladimir Kolmogorov ,

Is there any special setting on your Z drive?

Looks like you are using virtiofs. I’m not sure if there’s any limitation about virtiofs. Can you confirm that virtiofs doesn’t block VS from opening source file?

Besides, in case the issue is related to case insensitivity, please try to create a new project with uppercase name and add a file with uppercase name for test.

Vladimir Kolmogorov 0 Reputation points

2023-07-22T11:52:46.37+00:00

I capitalized the directory name and the cpp file name, and this indeed helped. But now it gives the same error message about .idb file (which I cannot capitalize). So it looks the problem is related to capitalization. I think file names in windows are supposed to be case-insensitive, so perhaps it's a bug (or misconfiguration) in virtiofs?

Tianyu Sun-MSFT 29,446 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2023-07-24T06:00:20.6166667+00:00

Hi @Vladimir Kolmogorov ,

Yes, different file systems have different rules. I believe it’s the cause.

There’s no better configuration that can be set from Visual Studio. The generated files/folders are normally using the default name, though sometimes some name of generated files can be customized.

I recommend also posting this question on virtiofs related community for further help.

Sincerely,

Tianyu
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"cannot open source file" error

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