i have problems with this too, except i am using windows 7 professional x64 ... i am at a loss

Hello, tiny.

You wrote: "...visual studio c++ 2012, doesn't support XP...".

I selected these your words and inserted into Google search. I've got many links that mention this problem, and seems they include also solutions.

For example: Windows XP Targeting with C++ in Visual Studio 2012.

However, I did not try these solutions myself - I don't have VSC 2012.