using VS2013 but still get “The builds tools for v120 (Platform Toolset = 'v120') cannot be found.” error

Question

I'm using Visual Studio 2013 on a Windows 7-64 machine and still got the below error. I have exactly the same reg key setting under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSBuild to my coworker who can compile the solution fine. we are using the same VS2013.

it's weird that my log shows "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\ V110 \Microsoft.Cpp.Platform.targets(44,5)", but not V120. anyone knows why?

appreciate any clue and help, been stuck for a few days.

1>------ Build started: Project: MyProject01, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------
2>------ Build started: Project: MyProject02, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------
1>C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V110\Microsoft.Cpp.Platform.targets(44,5): error MSB8020: The builds tools for v120 (Platform Toolset = 'v120') cannot be found. To build using the v120 build tools, either click the Project menu or right-click the solution, and then select "Update VC++ Projects...". Install v120 to build using the v120 build tools.
2>C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V110\Microsoft.Cpp.Platform.targets(44,5): error MSB8020: The builds tools for v120 (Platform Toolset = 'v120') cannot be found. To build using the v120 build tools, either click the Project menu or right-click the solution, and then select "Update VC++ Projects...". Install v120 to build using the v120 build tools.
3>------ Build started: Project: MyProject03, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------
3>C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V110\Microsoft.Cpp.Platform.targets(44,5): error MSB8020: The builds tools for v120 (Platform Toolset = 'v120') cannot be found. To build using the v120 build tools, either click the Project menu or right-click the solution, and then select "Update VC++ Projects...". Install v120 to build using the v120 build tools.
4>------ Build started: Project: MyProject04, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------
4>C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V110\Microsoft.Cpp.Platform.targets(44,5): error MSB8020: The builds tools for v120 (Platform Toolset = 'v120') cannot be found. To build using the v120 build tools, either click the Project menu or right-click the solution, and then select "Update VC++ Projects...". Install v120 to build using the v120 build tools.
5>------ Build started: Project: MyProject05, Configuration: Debug x86 ------
5>CSC : error CS0006: Metadata file 'D:_Vault\Workspaces\MyProject05_Parser\Debug\MyProject05Parser.dll' could not be found
6>------ Build started: Project: MyProject06, Configuration: Debug Win32 ------
6>C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V110\Microsoft.Cpp.Platform.targets(44,5): error MSB8020: The builds tools for v120 (Platform Toolset = 'v120') cannot be found. To build using the v120 build tools, either click the Project menu or right-click the solution, and then select "Update VC++ Projects...". Install v120 to build using the v120 build tools.
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 6 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

Answer 1

I root caused the issue, it's because some other project on the development machine has a system environment variable "VCTargetsPath" which is pointing to v110. after removing this environment variable the compilation starts working. It seems the the environment variable can overwrite the effect of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSBuild, where there is one VCTargetsPath subkey and pointing to v120 already.

Answer 2

I had the same issue because the VisualStudioVersion environment variable was set to "11.0" [rather than "12.0" (2013) or "14.0" (2015) or not set at all].