How to download the Build Tools v11.0

Question

We currently have a build server running Visual Studio 2008, and we are in the process of migrating to a 2022 server. However, when attempting to build the project, I encounter the following error:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Professional\Common7\IDE\VC\VCTargets\Microsoft.Cpp.Platform.targets(64,5): ***error MSB8020: The build tools for Visual Studio 2012 (Platform Toolset = 'v110') cannot be found.*** To build using the v110 build tools, please install Visual Studio 2012 build tools. Alternatively, you may upgrade to the current Visual Studio tools by selecting the Project menu or right-clicking the solution and selecting "Retarget solution." [D:\TFSBuilds\Dev\Src\ActivEssentials\Server Applications\UtilityService\COMWrapper\COMWrapper.vcxproj]

I downloaded Visual Studio 2019 (both Update 5 and Update 4), but I am unable to find the MS Build folder.

Can you help me obtain the Visual Studio 2012 build tools? I also tried downloading the Visual Studio 2013 build tools and ran the build again, but I am still encountering the same error.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Professional\Common7\IDE\VC\VCTargets\Microsoft.Cpp.Platform.targets(64,5): error MSB8020: The build tools for Visual Studio 2012 (Platform Toolset = 'v110') cannot be found. To build using the v110 build tools, please install Visual Studio 2012 build tools. Alternatively, you may upgrade to the current Visual Studio tools by selecting the Project menu or right-click the solution, and then selecting "Retarget solution". [D:\TFSBuilds\Dev\Src\ActivEssentials\Server Applications\UtilityService\COMWrapper\COMWrapper.vcxproj]

When I downloaded the vs 2019 update 5 and also 4 I am unable to get the MS Build folder.

Can you help me to get vs 2012 build tools

I downloaded the vs 2013 build tools and ran again I am getting the same error.

Answer 1

visual studio x does not contain the tools for visual study x-1. it is assumed you will upgrade the projects to the new version, which will update the tools reference in the project files, or you still have the old version installed.

as visual studio 2012 is out of support, you will need a visual studio subscription to download visual studio 2012 and get the build tools.

your other option, is to upgrade the projects to a new version of visual studio, as I believe vs 2008 only supported up to .net 3.5 (which is out of support)r newer versions of visual studio .net 3.5 support is an optional component.

note: there are breaking changes updating .net 3.5 to the current net 4.8 version. there is no migration path for webforms to asp.net core. You will need to recode, probably to razor pages or blazor, both of which only support c#.