MSBuild complains: Cannot find "vs-preclean-vs.exe" .
vs-preclean-vs.exe is a part of . It is not a core compiler like cl.exe or a linker like link.exe . Instead, it is a helper utility designed to resolve a specific pain point in large C++ projects: intermediate file pollution .
To understand vs-preclean-vs.exe , you need a quick refresher on how MSBuild (the underlying build engine for VS2012) operates.
: Ensure your system is up to date. Users have reported that installing specific Windows Updates, such as KB2781514 , can resolve installation hangs.
While not a mainstream executable like devenv.exe or msbuild.exe , the term is frequently searched by developers encountering specific build obstructions or attempting to optimize their workflow. This article delves deep into the context of this executable, exploring its origins, its function, why it might fail, and how to resolve common Visual Studio 2012 issues associated with it.
This exit code (0xC0000005) is ACCESS_VIOLATION . The tool tried to access invalid memory or a locked file.