C compile error: Id returned 1 exit status

I may guess, the old instance of your program is still running. Windows does not allow to change the files which are currently "in use" and your linker cannot write the new .exe on the top of the running one. Try stopping/killing your program.

I bet for sure, that this is because you didn't close the running instance of the program before trying to re-compile it.

Generally, ld.exe returns 1 when it can't access required files. This usually includes

• Can't find the object file to be linked (or Access denied)
• Can't find one or more symbols to link
• Can't open the executable for writing (or AD)

The program looks completely fine, so the second point should not hit. In usual cases, it's impossible for ld to fail to open the object file (unless you have a faulty drive and a dirty filesystem), so the first point is also nearly impossible.

Now we get to the third point. Note that Windows not allow writing to a file when it's in use, so the running instance of your program prevents ld.exe from writing the new linked program to it.

So next time be sure to close running programs before compiling.