Question: I am trying to install --global windows-build-tools by running below command

`npm install --global windows-build-tools -verbose`

No matter if I try through PowerShell or CMD (both as Administrator), the installation gets stuck in the same step.

`npm info run windows-build-tools@5.2.2 postinstall node_modules/windows-build-tools node ./dist/index.js`
`[##################] | reify:resolve: info run windows-build-tools@5.2.2 postinstall node_modules/windows-build-tools node ./dist/index.js`

Is there a reason why this might not complete?

Answer: 
If you're having trouble installing `windows-build-tools` (which I had a problem with recently), you should roll back to version *4.0.0*.

Run PowerShell as Administrator, and then type in the following command (assuming you have `node` and `npm` installed).

```
npm install --global windows-build-tools@4.0.0

```

This process can take some time, so please be patient.

Built-in Node.js Build Tools
----------------------------

There are built-in Node.js build tools, so it is recommended to use this. In fact, if you go on the npm or GitHub page of the `windows-build-tools` package, it will say that you should use the Node.js build tools.

To do this, go to [the official Node.js download website](https://nodejs.org/), and download the LTS version. Then, run the installer. At a point in the installation, it will have a checkbox that says *Automatically install the recommended tools*. Make sure to check that!

When you install it, it will also install Chocolatey, and install the build tools like the `windows-build-tools` package.

---

Even though both of these work, **it is recommended to use the Node.js built tools**!
Following this thread for a while now.

Disclaimer: Please note that I know this is not directly answering your question about why the process gets stuck but I want to share my solution anyway.

The installation via chocolatey did not work for me, as mentioned in:

* <https://github.com/felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools/issues/245>
* <https://github.com/felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools/issues/152>

Then, I found this [microsoft page](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/365971/unable-to-install-visual-c-build-tools.html). On this page, the person asked this question:

> 
> I tried to install the Microsoft Visual C++ Build tools. The installer
> (filename is visualcppbuildtools\_full.exe) stops right after the start
> of the installation it says a setup package is missing or damaged("Ein
> Setuppaket fehlt oder ist beschädigt"). The option to download it
> again doesnt work. Downloading the installer again doesnt help. Trying
> to do an offline installation doesnt work either and I get the same
> error. How can I find out what exactly the problem is and how can I
> solve it?
> 
> 
> 

The solution mentions the page <https://my.visualstudio.com/Download> that provides different build tool versions:

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0ogto.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0ogto.png)

I was able to download and install "Build Tools for Visual Studio 2017 (version 15.9)".