GenerateProjectFiles fails with 4.23 release: Could not locate the assembly "Windows"

Development Programming & Scripting C++
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#1

I’ve tried all sorts of components in Visual Studio 2017 but I keep getting this error. I even reinstalled Visual Studio to be sure.

As far as I can tell namespace “Windows” should be in the Windows 10 SDK which is installed (10.0.17763.0). Is there a component I am missing? Can anyone help me debug this problem?



Setting up Unreal Engine 4 project files...
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Community\MSBuild\15.0\Bin\Microsoft.Common.CurrentVersion.targets(
2110,5): warning MSB3245: Could not resolve this reference. Could not locate the assembly "Windows". Check to make sure
 the assembly exists on disk. If this reference is required by your code, you may get compilation errors. [C:\Developme
nt\UnrealEngine-4.23.0-release\Engine\Source\Programs\UnrealBuildTool\UnrealBuildTool.csproj]
Platform\HoloLens\WinMDRegistrationInfo.cs(67,30): error CS0103: The name 'Windows' does not exist in the current conte
xt [C:\Development\UnrealEngine-4.23.0-release\Engine\Source\Programs\UnrealBuildTool\UnrealBuildTool.csproj]
Platform\HoloLens\WinMDRegistrationInfo.cs(70,62): error CS0246: The type or namespace name 'Windows' could not be foun
d (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) [C:\Development\UnrealEngine-4.23.0-release\Engine\Sour
ce\Programs\UnrealBuildTool\UnrealBuildTool.csproj]
Platform\HoloLens\WinMDRegistrationInfo.cs(71,59): error CS0246: The type or namespace name 'Windows' could not be foun
d (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) [C:\Development\UnrealEngine-4.23.0-release\Engine\Sour
ce\Programs\UnrealBuildTool\UnrealBuildTool.csproj]
Platform\HoloLens\WinMDRegistrationInfo.cs(75,67): error CS0246: The type or namespace name 'Windows' could not be foun
d (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) [C:\Development\UnrealEngine-4.23.0-release\Engine\Sour
ce\Programs\UnrealBuildTool\UnrealBuildTool.csproj]
Platform\HoloLens\WinMDRegistrationInfo.cs(33,29): error CS0246: The type or namespace name 'Windows' could not be foun
d (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) [C:\Development\UnrealEngine-4.23.0-release\Engine\Sour
ce\Programs\UnrealBuildTool\UnrealBuildTool.csproj]

GenerateProjectFiles ERROR: UnrealBuildTool failed to compile.

I have the following Visual Studio components installed:
[SPOILER]


    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.CoreEditor",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.CoreEditor",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Roslyn.Compiler",
    "Microsoft.Component.MSBuild",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Static.Analysis.Tools",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Roslyn.LanguageServices",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.PortableLibrary",
    "Microsoft.Net.Component.4.6.1.SDK",
    "Microsoft.Net.Component.4.6.1.TargetingPack",
    "Microsoft.Net.ComponentGroup.DevelopmentPrerequisites",
    "Microsoft.Component.ClickOnce",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.SQL.CLR",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VisualStudioData",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.TextTemplating",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.ManagedDesktop.Core",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.ManagedDesktop.Prerequisites",
    "Microsoft.Net.Component.4.TargetingPack",
    "Microsoft.Net.Component.4.5.TargetingPack",
    "Microsoft.Net.Component.4.5.1.TargetingPack",
    "Microsoft.Net.Component.4.5.2.TargetingPack",
    "Microsoft.Net.Component.4.6.TargetingPack",
    "Microsoft.Net.ComponentGroup.TargetingPacks.Common",
    "Microsoft.ComponentGroup.Blend",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.EntityFramework",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Debugger.JustInTime",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.NuGet",
    "Microsoft.Net.Component.4.6.2.SDK",
    "Microsoft.Net.Component.4.6.2.TargetingPack",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.ManagedDesktop",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.CoreIde",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Redist.14.Latest",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Graphics.Win81",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Graphics.Tools",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.DiagnosticTools",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows10SDK.17763",
    "Microsoft.Component.VC.Runtime.UCRTSDK",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows81SDK",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.ComponentGroup.NativeDesktop.Win81",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.DiagnosticTools",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows10SDK",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.NuGet.BuildTools",
    "Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NativeGame"

[/SPOILER]

#2

Installing Visual Studio 2019 fixed the problem

#3

You need .net framework 4.6.2

#4

I solved this problem by installing Windows 10 SDK (10.0.18362.0). It seems 10.0.17763.0 is not compatible with 4.23.

#5

Same here. This fixed it. Thank you!

#6

Thanks. I have VS 2017 and update Windows sdk to 10.0.18362.0 and the problem went away

#7

Likewise, going to 2017 fixed it for me as well. Not sure why I thought 4.24 needed 2019 but its all good now. You do have to update the windows SDK separately from what comes in 2017 or you will get some compile errors as well FYI for anyone else reading this.