diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3ccd78ec..480f2121 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,3 +37,21 @@ Other samples repos:
 This project has adopted the [Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct](https://opensource.microsoft.com/codeofconduct/).
 For more information see the [Code of Conduct FAQ](https://opensource.microsoft.com/codeofconduct/faq/)
 or contact [opencode@microsoft.com](mailto:opencode@microsoft.com) with any additional questions or comments.
+
+# Visual Studio 2015 build environment
+
+You need to have Visual Studio 2015, Windows SDK 7.1, and Windows SDK 8.1 installed.
+
+You also need to set the following environment variables:
+
+```
+WindowsSdk_71A_ExecutablePath	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1A\Bin
+WindowsSdk_71A_IncludePath	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1A\Include
+WindowsSdk_71A_LibraryPath_x64	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1A\Lib\x64
+WindowsSdk_71A_LibraryPath_x86	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1A\Lib
+
+WindowsSdk_81_ExecutablePath	C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\bin\x86
+WindowsSdk_81_IncludePath	C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Include\um;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Include\shared
+WindowsSdk_81_LibraryPath_x64	C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Lib\winv6.3\um\x64
+WindowsSdk_81_LibraryPath_x86	C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Lib\winv6.3\um\x86
+```
diff --git a/Samples/VShadowVolumeShadowCopy/cpp/vshadow.vcxproj b/Samples/VShadowVolumeShadowCopy/cpp/vshadow.vcxproj
index 5ee35505..9d586ff0 100644
--- a/Samples/VShadowVolumeShadowCopy/cpp/vshadow.vcxproj
+++ b/Samples/VShadowVolumeShadowCopy/cpp/vshadow.vcxproj
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@
     <RunCodeAnalysis>false</RunCodeAnalysis>
     <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Community\Team Tools\Static Analysis Tools\Rule Sets\NativeRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
     <TargetName>efsvss-2008-r2-x86</TargetName>
+    <ExecutablePath>$(VC_ExecutablePath_x86);$(WindowsSdk_81_ExecutablePath);$(VS_ExecutablePath);$(MSBuild_ExecutablePath);$(SystemRoot)\SysWow64;$(FxCopDir);$(PATH);</ExecutablePath>
+    <IncludePath>$(VC_IncludePath);$(WindowsSdk_81_IncludePath);</IncludePath>
+    <LibraryPath>$(VC_LibraryPath_x86);$(WindowsSdk_81_LibraryPath_x86);C:\boost\lib</LibraryPath>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|x64'">
     <LinkIncremental>true</LinkIncremental>
@@ -147,6 +150,9 @@
     <RunCodeAnalysis>false</RunCodeAnalysis>
     <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Community\Team Tools\Static Analysis Tools\Rule Sets\NativeRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
     <TargetName>efsvss-2008-r2-x64</TargetName>
+    <ExecutablePath>$(VC_ExecutablePath_x64);$(WindowsSdk_81_ExecutablePath);$(VS_ExecutablePath);$(MSBuild_ExecutablePath);$(FxCopDir);$(PATH);</ExecutablePath>
+    <IncludePath>$(VC_IncludePath);$(WindowsSdk_81_IncludePath);</IncludePath>
+    <LibraryPath>$(VC_LibraryPath_x64);$(WindowsSdk_81_LibraryPath_x64);$(NETFXKitsDir)Lib\um\x64</LibraryPath>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'">
     <LinkIncremental>false</LinkIncremental>
@@ -159,6 +165,9 @@
     <RunCodeAnalysis>false</RunCodeAnalysis>
     <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Community\Team Tools\Static Analysis Tools\Rule Sets\NativeRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
     <TargetName>efsvss-2008-r2-x86</TargetName>
+    <ExecutablePath>$(VC_ExecutablePath_x86);$(WindowsSdk_81_ExecutablePath);$(VS_ExecutablePath);$(MSBuild_ExecutablePath);$(SystemRoot)\SysWow64;$(FxCopDir);$(PATH);</ExecutablePath>
+    <IncludePath>$(VC_IncludePath);$(WindowsSdk_81_IncludePath);</IncludePath>
+    <LibraryPath>$(VC_LibraryPath_x86);$(WindowsSdk_81_LibraryPath_x86);C:\boost\lib</LibraryPath>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'">
     <LinkIncremental>false</LinkIncremental>
@@ -171,13 +180,16 @@
     <RunCodeAnalysis>false</RunCodeAnalysis>
     <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Community\Team Tools\Static Analysis Tools\Rule Sets\NativeRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
     <TargetName>efsvss-2008-r2-x64</TargetName>
+    <ExecutablePath>$(VC_ExecutablePath_x64);$(WindowsSdk_81_ExecutablePath);$(VS_ExecutablePath);$(MSBuild_ExecutablePath);$(FxCopDir);$(PATH);</ExecutablePath>
+    <IncludePath>$(VC_IncludePath);$(WindowsSdk_81_IncludePath);</IncludePath>
+    <LibraryPath>$(VC_LibraryPath_x64);$(WindowsSdk_81_LibraryPath_x64);$(NETFXKitsDir)Lib\um\x64</LibraryPath>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|Win32'">
     <ClCompile>
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>EFSVSS_2008;WIN32;_DEBUG;_CONSOLE;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>EFSVSS_2008;WIN32;_DEBUG;_CONSOLE;_USING_V110_SDK71_;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <TreatWChar_tAsBuiltInType>false</TreatWChar_tAsBuiltInType>
       <EnablePREfast>false</EnablePREfast>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDebug</RuntimeLibrary>
@@ -211,7 +223,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>EFSVSS_2008;WIN32;_DEBUG;_CONSOLE;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>EFSVSS_2008;WIN32;_DEBUG;_CONSOLE;_USING_V110_SDK71_;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <TreatWChar_tAsBuiltInType>false</TreatWChar_tAsBuiltInType>
       <EnablePREfast>false</EnablePREfast>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDebug</RuntimeLibrary>
@@ -248,7 +260,7 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>EFSVSS_2008;WIN32;NDEBUG;_CONSOLE;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>EFSVSS_2008;WIN32;NDEBUG;_CONSOLE;_USING_V110_SDK71_;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <EnablePREfast>false</EnablePREfast>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreaded</RuntimeLibrary>
     </ClCompile>
@@ -290,7 +302,7 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>EFSVSS_2008;WIN32;NDEBUG;_CONSOLE;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>EFSVSS_2008;WIN32;NDEBUG;_CONSOLE;_USING_V110_SDK71_;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <EnablePREfast>false</EnablePREfast>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreaded</RuntimeLibrary>
     </ClCompile>