...default.vcxproj cannot be opened because its project type is not supported

Article
2015-12-21

Question

_{Monday, December 21, 2015 3:20 AM}

Ive been getting the following error whenever I try to start a new project using the Win32 Console Application template, Im using Visual Studio Community 2015.

'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\VCWizards\default.vcxproj' cannot be opened because its project type (.vcxproj) is not supported by this version of the application.

To open it, please use a version that support this type

I have uninstalled and reinstalled and gotten the same error.

All replies (12)

_{Tuesday, December 22, 2015 6:08 AM | 1 vote}

Hi Zeo720,

Thank you for posting in MSDN forum.

>>'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\VCWizards\default.vcxproj' cannot be opened because its project type (.vcxproj) is not supported by this version of the application

From this error message, it seems that VC++ templates are not installed well on your machine,

You definitely should have a VC++ Console application template under Visual C#->Windows.

You can try this to restore the missing templates:

Please open Windows Explorer, and navigate to <Visual Studio Installation Path>\Common7\IDE (by default is C:\Program Files \Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE);

1.Delete the ItemTemplatesCache, ProjectTemplatesCache folder;

2.Open **Visual Studio Command Prompt ** under Start menu -> All Programs -> Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 -> Visual Studio Tools (run it with Administrator privilege: right-click the program -> Run as administrator);

3.Run the devenv /InstallVSTemplates switch;

4.Run the devenv /Setup switch

Please also note that the forum for VS installation and setup issues is here: https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vssetup/threads

Best Regards,

Wen Xu

We are trying to better understand customer views on social support experience, so your participation in this interview project would be greatly appreciated if you have time. Thanks for helping make community forums a great place.

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_{Wednesday, December 23, 2015 1:13 AM}

I followed those steps but still having the same problem. Im getting a new error aswell that says:

The 'Visuial C++ Project System Package' package did not load correctly.

In good new though I was able to create a console application project with Visual C#. But still Visual C++ doesnt work.

_{Wednesday, December 23, 2015 6:38 AM}

Hi Zeor,

>>Visual C++ doesnt work

For this issue, I suggest you manually download the Visual C++ redistributable from the thread below:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145

Best Regards,

Wen

Click HERE to participate the survey.

_{Wednesday, December 23, 2015 6:46 AM}

I already have both of them installed. However I do have lots of older year version also installed. Should I uninstall them so I only have the 2015 versions?

_{Wednesday, December 23, 2015 6:50 AM}

Hi Zero,

If you have installed them but not work, maybe your VS has some issue, so you may need to repair your VS.

To eliminate internet variables, I suggest that you download the ISO to do the repair, verify the SHA-1 to ensure the ISO is not corrupt, then install locally.
VS 2015 iso Microsoft official download link:
https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs.aspx
VS 2015 iso files SHA-1 Values link:
https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/visual-studio-2015-iso-sha1-vs.aspx

PS: To make sure whether your package is corrupted or not,
please use FCIV.exe http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841290 to verify hash of the ISO.
Any discrepancy would indicate that the file was corrupted. Here is a blog for how to use it, you can refer to it.

After making sure the VS community iso is ok, you could use it to do the repair and then re-install

Best Regards,

Wen

Click HERE to participate the survey.

_{Thursday, December 24, 2015 5:03 AM}

So I have downloaded the ISO and checked the SHA-1 values which were all fine. Then I tried the repair which ran smoothly but still getting the same error. Then I uninstalled VS and installed it from the ISO still no good.

_{Friday, December 25, 2015 6:43 AM}

Hi Zeor720,

May I ask you if your OS has recently upgraded to win 10? If so, it might lead to the failure of install VS.

Besides, in order to narrow down the problems of VS setup, there are some tips about installing VS:

Disable anti-virus or anti-spyware software.
Check windows update.
Clear %TEMP% folder.
Run the installer as administrator.

you should make sure you’ve followed these tips:

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en/vssetup/thread/60f71a54-506e-4c70-be98-e993ce6d1ddf

If the above still doesn't help, I need you installation log file to troubleshoot this issue,

please use http://aka.ms/vscollectto gather the installation logs. After using it, you will find vslogs.cab from %temp% folder.Please upload the file to https://onedrive.live.com/ and share the link here

Best Regards,

Wen Xu

Click HERE to participate the survey.

_{Saturday, December 26, 2015 12:11 AM}

Those steps didnt help. Here is the link to the vslogs

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=96D176EB4E724B76!551&authkey=!AKjNQVMapHsxdjE&ithint=file%2czip

_{Tuesday, December 29, 2015 9:11 AM}

Hi Zero720,

I checked the log you provided and found the error message below:

[12/26/2015, 9:51:24] Executable: C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\NetFxDevpack_FullRedistISV_4.6.1_394271\packages\dotnetframework\NDP461-KB3102436-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe v4.6.1055.0
[12/26/2015, 9:51:24] logging level: standard
[12/26/2015, 9:51:24] Successfully bound to the ClusApi.dll
[12/26/2015, 9:51:24] Error 0x80070424: Failed to open the current cluster

>>0x80070424 - The specified service does not exist as an installed service

For this error, it is caused by Windows Modules Installer service is stopped or is corrupted.

Please following the steps below to fix this issue:

1.Use the Windows Update troubleshooter (refer to the following link). To start the troubleshooter, click run now.
2.Install Windows Update again.

Refer to: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/968002

Best Regards,

Wen Xu

Click HERE to participate the survey.

_{Tuesday, December 29, 2015 1:11 PM}

I performed the repair and that said it fixed two things. Then I reinstalled VS and it still gets the same problem. Would it be possible to just download the file default.vcxproj from a working version of VS?

_{Wednesday, March 23, 2016 12:52 PM}

I used to have the same problem with Proffessional edition. I installed Visual Studio 2015 Update 1 and the problem disappeared.

_{Tuesday, January 17, 2017 1:14 PM}

I have the same problem with update 2, installed update 3 and nothing.
Have you found the problem?

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