Do I need both directx sdk and windows sdk to program using directx

You shouldnt need the windows sdk.

what errors are you getting and what compiler are you using?

The DirectX SDK depends on a number of macros defined in the Windows SDK if I'm not mistaken (such as handles, COM, etc), especially in windows.h so yes you need to install it :).

Yes, if your compiler doesn't come with the Windows SDK (Or at least part of it). What compiler are you using? VC2005 Express requires the Windows SDK / Platform SDK, VC2008 Express doesn't.

I am using Microsoft visual c++ 10.0 express-ENU

Post the errors you're receiving at compile time. If you're missing the SDK some of them will be incredibly cryptive and make 0 sense but it might help us to track down your problem :). If you're 100% certain the Windows SDK isn't installed go to the Microsoft site and pick it up since it is a requirement.

1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\include\objidl.h(11280): error C2061: syntax error : identifier '__RPC__out_xcount_part'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\include\objidl.h(11281): error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\include\objidl.h(11281): fatal error C1903: unable to recover from previous error(s); stopping compilation
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========

I saw that the windows sdk size is over 1gb which is a bit too big for me so I wonder is there a smaller version that would fit me.

As per my answer in your other thread, and the link there, what order do you have your SDK paths in, in your IDE directories section (See Here if you're not sure what I'm talking about - that's for VC2005, but the same should apply for VC2010 I think).

EDIT: Whoops, wrong link

Interesting error, but the good news is you have the SDK installed, the path in the error is from the v7.0A Windows Platform SDK :).

EDIT:

Looks like you're not the only one having this issue with VS2010 and DirectX:

Click Here

Unfortunately MS hasn't really provided a solution to it short of updating the platform SDK and installing an updated version of the DX SDK by the looks of things.

Sorry but it seems that settings are not the same for the vs 10.0 version as for the vs 8 version.

Quote:

Original post by matre Sorry but it seems that settings are not the same for the vs 10.0 version as for the vs 8 version.

Maybe you should drop 2010 then. If you aren't using the new C++0x features then you won't miss very much. You will likely get more help because there aren't a lot of people with experience troubleshooting VS 2010 yet.