Node packages not building on Windows 8.1 - Missing Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props

c++ visual-studio-2010 node.js visual-studio-2012 msbuild

The quick fix for me was this:

set VCTargetsPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft.Cpp\v4.0\V120npm install

c++ visual-studio-2010 node.js visual-studio-2012 msbuild

Finally Microsoft is providing much better solution to VS.

c++ visual-studio-2010 node.js visual-studio-2012 msbuild

I just wanted to update this question with the latest answer. You now do not need to install Visual Studio.

Instructions below in case the source goes down.

Install VC++ Build Tools Technical Preview using the Default Install option.
[Windows 7 only] requires .NET Framework 4.5.1
Install Python 2.7, and add it to your PATH: npm config set python python2.7
Launch cmd and run:npm config set msvs_version 2015 --global (this is instead of lnpm install [package name] --msvs_version=2015l every time.)

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