visual c++ - fatal error LNK1112: module machine type 'x64' conflicts with target machine type 'X86'

Question

I'm using CUDA (VC++, Visual studio 2008sp1) to debug a FEM program. The program can only run on a Win32 platform, for the insufficiency of cuda. I think the library files linked are all compiled on the x86 platform, but when I compile it, I get the error message "fatal error LNK1112: module machine type 'x64' conflicts with target machine type 'X86'".

I have tried to convert the platform to x64, but it didn't work. Please tell me: what is "module machine type" and what is "target machine type"? How can I overcome it?

Answer 1

I wrote a blog entry about this, as I encountered this maddening problem, and finally yanked my system back into working order.

These are the things to check, in this order:

1. Check your properties options in your linker settings at: Properties > Configuration Properties > Linker > Advanced > Target Machine. Select MachineX64 if you are targeting a 64 bit build, or MachineX86 if you are making a 32 bit build.

2. Select Build > Configuration Manager from the main menu in visual studio. Make sure your project has the correct platform specified. It is possible for the IDE to be set to build x64 but an individual project in the solution can be set to target win32. So yeah, visual studio leaves a lot of rope to hang yourself, but that's life.

3. Check your library files that they really are of the type of platform are targeting. This can be used by using dumpbin.exe which is in your visual studio VCin directory. use the -headers option to dump all your functions. Look for the machine entry for each function. it should include x64 if it's a 64 bit build.

4. In visual studio, select Tools > Options from the main menu. select Projects and Solutions > VC++ Directories. Select x64 from the Platform dropdown. Make sure that the first entry is: $(VCInstallDir)inx86_amd64 followed by $(VCInstallDir)in.

Once I did step 4 everything worked again for me. The thing was I was encountering this problem on all my projects where I wanted to compile towards a 64 bit target.