c++ - error LNK2005: new and delete already defined in LIBCMTD.lib(new.obj)

Question

I have a Visual studio 2005 solution that has two projects. One is a static library and the other is a executable used to test the features in the static library. The static library uses MFC. I got the following errors when I built the solution.

uafxcwd.lib(afxmem.obj) : error LNK2005: "void * __cdecl operator new(unsigned int)" (??2@YAPAXI@Z) already defined in LIBCMTD.lib(new.obj)
uafxcwd.lib(afxmem.obj) : error LNK2005: "void __cdecl operator delete(void *)" (??    3@YAXPAX@Z) already defined in LIBCMTD.lib(dbgdel.obj)
uafxcwd.lib(afxmem.obj) : error LNK2005: "void * __cdecl operator new[](unsigned int)" (??_U@YAPAXI@Z) already defined in libcpmtd.lib(newaop.obj)
uafxcwd.lib(afxmem.obj) : error LNK2005: "void __cdecl operator delete[](void *)" (??_V@YAXPAX@Z) already defined in LIBCMTD.lib(delete2.obj)

I do not know how to overcome this. Can some one please explain why this error is occuring. Any explanation that gives an overview of .lib files linkage will be highly appreciated.

Answer 1

The CRT libraries use weak external linkage for the new, delete, and DllMain functions. The MFC libraries also contain new, delete, and DllMain functions. These functions require the MFC libraries to be linked before the CRT library is linked. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/148652

Solution based on VS2005 (Replace Nafxcwd.lib with Uafxcwd.lib for ~VS2013)

go to project>properties>configuration properties>linker>input

add to "Additional dependency" -> Nafxcwd.lib Libcmtd.lib

add to "ignore specific library" -> Nafxcwd.lib;Libcmtd.lib

order of libraries is important( Nafxcwd.lib;Libcmtd.lib).