reduce exe size in visual studio

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i cant seem to reduce my exe size that was built with VS 2010, ive followed many guides and everytime my file is 51kb and all it does is MessageBoxA

I have followed this guide from start to finish

http://linkyzer0.com/papers/Decrease_Win...leSize.pdf

what am i doing wrong ?

Posted 28-Feb-15 20:42pm

Anddos

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enhzflep 1-Mar-15 3:18am

The link doesn't work, it looks like it's been shortened by something - note the ellipsis in it.

2 solutions

Solution 3

One alternative idea: migrate to .NET platform where you can use C++/CLI and freely combine .NET managed code with native C++ code. As .NET assemblies link statically next to nothing, it minimizes the size of their modules. The difference in size if really impressively big.

—SA

Posted 1-Mar-15 1:11am

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

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OriginalGriff · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-28T20:58:00

Solution 1

51K isn't that big; and "all it does is MessageBoxA" isn't quite true - there is a lot going on "behind the scenes" in even a minimal Windows App.

Why would a 51K footprint be a problem these days? :laugh:

[edit]
Just a thought: if you really think it's "only one line" then you can reduce the amount of windows code that it's linked with:
1) Make sure you are on the Release version
2) Edit your project properties:
2.1) Configuration Properties...Linker...System
2.2) SubSystem: change to "Not Set".
2.3) save the changes with the "OK" button.

Rebuild (and if it compiles clean) check the file size.
[/edit]

Posted 28-Feb-15 20:58pm

OriginalGriff

Updated 28-Feb-15 22:06pm

v2

Comments

Kenneth Haugland 1-Mar-15 3:12am

.NET framework is also behind the scene, and that's rather big the last time I checked. And you also need Windows or similar. So I don't see what the hassle should be with 51 kB :laugh:

enhzflep 1-Mar-15 3:35am

[comment removed by author, since answer above has been changed]

enhzflep 1-Mar-15 4:19am

:thumbs-up: +vote launched.

Andreas Gieriet 1-Mar-15 5:10am

My 5!
Cheers
Andi

OriginalGriff 1-Mar-15 5:21am

You're welcome!