# How to compile a 64\-bit application with using Visual C\+\+ Express 2005/2008/2010?

Extract from MSDN \[1\]\.


> 64\\\-bit tools are not available on Visual C\\\+\\\+ Express by default\\\. To enable 64\\\-bit tools on Visual C\\\+\\\+ Express, install the Windows Software Development Kit \\\(SDK\\\) in addition to Visual C\\\+\\\+ Express\\\. Otherwise, an error occurs when you attempt to configure a project to target a 64\\\-bit platform using Visual C\\\+\\\+ Express\\\.

This question is thoroughly described in the sources by the links given below \[[2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Visual_Studio_Express)\]\.

## References

1. MSDN\. [How to: Configure Visual C\+\+ Projects to Target 64\-Bit Platforms](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/9yb4317s.aspx)\.
1. Wikipedia\. [Microsoft Visual Studio Express](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Visual_Studio_Express)\.