Change target CPU settings in Visual Studio 2010 Express

Question

I wish to change the target CPU settings from \"Any CPU\" to \"x86\" in Visual Studio 2010.

I read on another website that I need to do the following:

Answer 1

I don't have Visual Studio 2010 right now, but in Visual Studio 2008, you have to first add a configuration through Build -> Configuration Manager.

After you have added the configuration, you can simply select the Active Configuration through the drop down menu.

Answer 2

I believe the reason you don't see the Compile tab in the project properties is because you're using the Express edition. Optimization for a specific CPU type is not offically supported in this edition. However, you should be able to change the active solution platform in the following way:

From the "Tools" menu, select the "Options" item, and then select the "Projects and Solutions" option in the listbox on the left-hand side of the Options dialog. (You might have to check "Show all settings" first.) Check the box that says "Show advanced build configurations":

Then, on the "Build" menu, see if you have an item called "Configuration Manager". If not, you need to add the item to the menu (right-click on any area in the toolbar and choose "Customize" at the bottom of the list).

Once you've opened the Configuration Manager dialog, go to the "Active solution platform" drop-down box and choose "New". From the "New Solution Platform" dialog that appears, you should be able to choose "x86" from the first drop-down box.

Alternatively, it looks like you can manually edit the project file to specify the CPU type. See Changing the target CPU in VB Express 2008. It looks like it amounts to simply changing the <PlatformTarget> under the first <PropertyGroup> section to "x86".

Answer 3

To make the Build menu bar appear on your Visual Studio 2010, go to menu Tools -> Settings -> check Expert Settings. So later on you can use Configuration Manager.

Answer 4

I don't have Visual Studio 2010 right now, but in Visual Studio 2008, you have to first add a configuration through Build -> Configuration Manager.

After you have added the configuration, you can simply select the Active Configuration through the drop down menu.