[windows-11-arm] Install native arm64 Visual Studio

[kasper93]

Type of issue

• Error when running a workflow.
• Request for additional tools or software for an existing image.
• Request for a new image, Linux or Windows.
• Other

Describe the issue

It looks like the Visual Studio installation is not fully installed correctly for arm64. As we can read here https://learn.microsoft.com/visualstudio/install/visual-studio-on-arm-devices it has native support. And important part is

For Windows 11 Arm64, you must uninstall all previous versions of Visual Studio (x64, x86) before installing Visual Studio 2022 version 17.4 or later.

I don't know how it was installed, but by inspecting current installation I can say that it differs from clean ARM64 install. The installation on windows-11-arm looks like x86_64 installation with native arm64 tools. I don't know the exact structure. I did simple validation of devenv.exe which is currently AMD64. But after clean installation of Visual Studio ARM64 binary is available. This is only simple test, there are way more components installed.

To Reproduce

> file "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe"
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe: PE32+ executable for MS Windows 6.00 (GUI), x86-64, 9 sections

Expected behavior

> file "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe"
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Enterprise\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe: PE32+ executable for MS Windows 6.02 (GUI), ARM64, 7 sections

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS: windows-11-arm

[NielsbishereAlt]

Likely what I'm running into too, I'm trying to use the arm64 assembler but it's not playing so nice, maybe because the x86_64 one was installed by default.
EDIT: Can confirm, Hostx64/arm64 isn't installed so there is no armasm64 either, bummer.

[kasper93]

EDIT: Can confirm, Hostx64/arm64 isn't installed so there is no armasm64 either, bummer.

This is more complex that that. Because this installation looks like is partially updated from x86 version or something. Reinstalling fixes all issues.

For your issue though, you should be looking at HostARM64\ARM64 directory. You will find there armasm64.exe binaries.

[Nielsbishere]

@kasper93 might be a dumb question, but how can I uininstall and reinstall via commands? I tried quite a few options (such as modifying components via commandline) but none were able to fully fix it.

[kasper93]

@kasper93 might be a dumb question, but how can I uininstall and reinstall via commands? I tried quite a few options (such as modifying components via commandline) but none were able to fully fix it.

I did a test with basic installation. Here is full documentation https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/install/use-command-line-parameters-to-install-visual-studio you have to know which components you need. And it will take hours to install on C:\ see #87 why.