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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-26T19:44:51+00:00

I am using the SHGetSpecialFolderPath function of the WINAPI, and also using the windows

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I am using the SHGetSpecialFolderPath function of the WINAPI, and also using the windows VisualExpressC++ compiler (cl.exe) to compile it. But when in linking stage I get this error:

error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol __imp___SHGetSpecialFolderPathA@16 referenced in function _main

I guess that I need to link Shell32.lib, is this correct and how would I do it in a way that I can actually get my program running on another system, maybe even a XP instead of a 7, without recompiling it?

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    If you’re compiling from the command line, just add shell32.lib to the command, something like this:

    cl file1.cpp file2.cpp shell32.lib

    You’re just using a function that Windows provides. Since this particular function goes back almost to the dawn of time (Windows 95, if I recall correctly), you shouldn’t have to do anything special to use it on anything reasonably current.

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