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MS-Windows Troubleshooting
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _WinMain@16
Symptom:
Microsoft Visual C++ generates the link error:
msvcrt.lib(crtexew.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _WinMain@16
or
msvcrtd.lib(crtexew.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _WinMain@16
Cause:
The linker is looking for the entry point for a console application, but the application is being compiled and linked as a windows application (i.e. not a console application).
This error has been observed after changing the project settings from using MBCS to UNICODE characters.
Remedy:
Under the project settings, under the ‘Link’ tab, category ‘output’,
set the ‘Entry-point symbol’ to ‘wWinMainCRTStartup’.
About the author: Brian Cryer is a dedicated software developer and webmaster. For his day job he develops websites and desktop applications as well as providing IT services. He moonlights as a technical author and consultant.