Configure Visual Studio Express
By default Visual Studio Express does not allow you to select a build configuration (for example, Debug or Release). Instead it generates Release when you build and Debug when you run. Very confusing! To restore sanity, follow these steps:
Open Visual Studio Express.
Select Tools menu, then Options.
Check "Show All Settings" in the lower left corner of the dialog.
On the left expand Projects and Solutions, then click General.
Then on the right, check "Show advanced build configurations".
Click OK.