I realize this post is a few years old, but I just wanted to extend this to anyone still struggling through this issue.
The company I work for still uses VS2015 so in turn I still use VS2015. I recently started working on a RPC application using C++ and found the need to download the Win32 Templates. Like many others I was having this "SDK 8.1 was not found" issue. i took the following corrective actions with no luck.
- I found the SDK through Micrsoft at the following link
https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/sdk-archive/ as referenced
above and downloaded it.
- I located my VS2015 install in Apps & Features and ran the repair.
- I completely uninstalled my VS2015 and reinstalled it.
- I attempted to manually point my console app "Executable" and "Include" directories to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Kits\8.1 and C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v8.1A\bin\NETFX 4.5.1 Tools.
None of the attempts above corrected the issue for me...
I then found this article on social MSDN https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/5287c51b-46d0-4a79-baad-ddde36af4885/visual-studio-cant-find-windows-81-sdk-when-trying-to-build-vs2015?forum=visualstudiogeneral
Finally what resolved the issue for me was:
- Uninstalling and reinstalling VS2015.
- Locating my installed "Windows Software Development Kit for Windows 8.1" and running the repair.
- Checked my "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Kits\8.1" to verify the "DesignTime" folder was in fact there.
- Opened VS created a Win32 Console application and comiled with no errors or issues
I hope this saves anyone else from almost 3 full days of frustration and loss of productivity.