diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d63ff7e..2634447 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -25,3 +25,10 @@ msg_gen
 srv_gen
 doc/html
 *sublime-workspace
+*.user
+*.suo
+*.sdf
+*.opensdf
+ipch
+Debug
+Release
diff --git a/src/impl/win.cc b/src/impl/win.cc
index d933fe9..c25bf4f 100644
--- a/src/impl/win.cc
+++ b/src/impl/win.cc
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ Serial::SerialImpl::read (uint8_t *buf, size_t size)
     throw PortNotOpenedException ("Serial::read");
   }
   DWORD bytes_read;
-  if (!ReadFile(fd_, buf, size, &bytes_read, NULL)) {
+  if (!ReadFile(fd_, buf, static_cast<DWORD>(size), &bytes_read, NULL)) {
     stringstream ss;
     ss << "Error while reading from the serial port: " << GetLastError();
     THROW (IOException, ss.str().c_str());
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ Serial::SerialImpl::write (const uint8_t *data, size_t length)
     throw PortNotOpenedException ("Serial::write");
   }
   DWORD bytes_written;
-  if (!WriteFile(fd_, data, length, &bytes_written, NULL)) {
+  if (!WriteFile(fd_, data, static_cast<DWORD>(length), &bytes_written, NULL)) {
     stringstream ss;
     ss << "Error while writing to the serial port: " << GetLastError();
     THROW (IOException, ss.str().c_str());
diff --git a/visual_studio/serial/serial.vcxproj b/visual_studio/serial/serial.vcxproj
index 0465ba7..3bef985 100644
--- a/visual_studio/serial/serial.vcxproj
+++ b/visual_studio/serial/serial.vcxproj
@@ -5,23 +5,46 @@
       <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
       <Platform>Win32</Platform>
     </ProjectConfiguration>
+    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Debug|x64">
+      <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
+      <Platform>x64</Platform>
+    </ProjectConfiguration>
     <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|Win32">
       <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
       <Platform>Win32</Platform>
     </ProjectConfiguration>
+    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|x64">
+      <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
+      <Platform>x64</Platform>
+    </ProjectConfiguration>
   </ItemGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
     <ProjectGuid>{A8517FB2-C74E-43BD-B3C6-B05D3FC11ECD}</ProjectGuid>
     <RootNamespace>serial</RootNamespace>
   </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <PlatformToolset Condition="'$(PlatformToolset)' == '' and '$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '12.0'">v120_xp</PlatformToolset>
+    <PlatformToolset Condition="'$(PlatformToolset)' == '' and '$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '11.0'">v110_xp</PlatformToolset>
+  </PropertyGroup>
   <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props" />
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|Win32'" Label="Configuration">
     <ConfigurationType>StaticLibrary</ConfigurationType>
     <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
     <CharacterSet>MultiByte</CharacterSet>
   </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|x64'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>StaticLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <CharacterSet>MultiByte</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'" Label="Configuration">
-    <ConfigurationType>Application</ConfigurationType>
+    <ConfigurationType>StaticLibrary</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
+    <CharacterSet>MultiByte</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>StaticLibrary</ConfigurationType>
     <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
     <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
     <CharacterSet>MultiByte</CharacterSet>
@@ -32,9 +55,15 @@
   <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets" Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|Win32'">
     <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
   </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|x64'" Label="PropertySheets">
+    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
+  </ImportGroup>
   <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets" Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'">
     <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
   </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'" Label="PropertySheets">
+    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
+  </ImportGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
   <PropertyGroup />
   <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|Win32'">
@@ -48,6 +77,21 @@
     </Link>
     <Lib>
       <AdditionalDependencies>setupapi.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+    </Lib>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|x64'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\..\serial\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+    </Link>
+    <Lib>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>setupapi.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
     </Lib>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
   <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'">
@@ -56,12 +100,35 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\..\serial\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
       <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
       <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
     </Link>
+    <Lib>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>setupapi.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+    </Lib>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
+      <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
+      <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\..\serial\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
+      <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
+    </Link>
+    <Lib>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>setupapi.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
+      <SubSystem>Windows</SubSystem>
+    </Lib>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <ClCompile Include="..\..\src\impl\list_ports\list_ports_win.cc" />
diff --git a/visual_studio/test_serial/test_serial.vcxproj b/visual_studio/test_serial/test_serial.vcxproj
index 7a817bc..293fbce 100644
--- a/visual_studio/test_serial/test_serial.vcxproj
+++ b/visual_studio/test_serial/test_serial.vcxproj
@@ -5,36 +5,65 @@
       <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
       <Platform>Win32</Platform>
     </ProjectConfiguration>
+    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Debug|x64">
+      <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
+      <Platform>x64</Platform>
+    </ProjectConfiguration>
     <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|Win32">
       <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
       <Platform>Win32</Platform>
     </ProjectConfiguration>
+    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|x64">
+      <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
+      <Platform>x64</Platform>
+    </ProjectConfiguration>
   </ItemGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
     <ProjectGuid>{92EE7E58-C737-41F9-B795-9B6ACF6AB0B8}</ProjectGuid>
     <RootNamespace>test_serial</RootNamespace>
   </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <PlatformToolset Condition="'$(PlatformToolset)' == '' and '$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '12.0'">v120_xp</PlatformToolset>
+    <PlatformToolset Condition="'$(PlatformToolset)' == '' and '$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '11.0'">v110_xp</PlatformToolset>
+  </PropertyGroup>
   <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props" />
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|Win32'" Label="Configuration">
     <ConfigurationType>Application</ConfigurationType>
     <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
     <CharacterSet>MultiByte</CharacterSet>
   </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|x64'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>Application</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <CharacterSet>MultiByte</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'" Label="Configuration">
     <ConfigurationType>Application</ConfigurationType>
     <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
     <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
     <CharacterSet>MultiByte</CharacterSet>
   </PropertyGroup>
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'" Label="Configuration">
+    <ConfigurationType>Application</ConfigurationType>
+    <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
+    <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
+    <CharacterSet>MultiByte</CharacterSet>
+  </PropertyGroup>
   <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
   <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
   </ImportGroup>
   <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets" Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|Win32'">
     <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
   </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|x64'" Label="PropertySheets">
+    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
+  </ImportGroup>
   <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets" Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'">
     <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
   </ImportGroup>
+  <ImportGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'" Label="PropertySheets">
+    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
+  </ImportGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
   <PropertyGroup />
   <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|Win32'">
@@ -45,6 +74,18 @@
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|x64'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\..\serial\include</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
     </Link>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
   <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'">
@@ -53,11 +94,28 @@
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\..\serial\include</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
       <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
       <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
+      <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
+    </Link>
+  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'">
+    <ClCompile>
+      <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
+      <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
+      <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
+      <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\..\serial\include</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+    </ClCompile>
+    <Link>
+      <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
+      <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
+      <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
+      <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
     </Link>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
diff --git a/visual_studio/visual_studio.sln b/visual_studio/visual_studio.sln
index 7c9fb7a..d1b4a7a 100644
--- a/visual_studio/visual_studio.sln
+++ b/visual_studio/visual_studio.sln
@@ -8,17 +8,27 @@ EndProject
 Global
 	GlobalSection(SolutionConfigurationPlatforms) = preSolution
 		Debug|Win32 = Debug|Win32
+		Debug|x64 = Debug|x64
 		Release|Win32 = Release|Win32
+		Release|x64 = Release|x64
 	EndGlobalSection
 	GlobalSection(ProjectConfigurationPlatforms) = postSolution
 		{A8517FB2-C74E-43BD-B3C6-B05D3FC11ECD}.Debug|Win32.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
 		{A8517FB2-C74E-43BD-B3C6-B05D3FC11ECD}.Debug|Win32.Build.0 = Debug|Win32
+		{A8517FB2-C74E-43BD-B3C6-B05D3FC11ECD}.Debug|x64.ActiveCfg = Debug|x64
+		{A8517FB2-C74E-43BD-B3C6-B05D3FC11ECD}.Debug|x64.Build.0 = Debug|x64
 		{A8517FB2-C74E-43BD-B3C6-B05D3FC11ECD}.Release|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
 		{A8517FB2-C74E-43BD-B3C6-B05D3FC11ECD}.Release|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
+		{A8517FB2-C74E-43BD-B3C6-B05D3FC11ECD}.Release|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|x64
+		{A8517FB2-C74E-43BD-B3C6-B05D3FC11ECD}.Release|x64.Build.0 = Release|x64
 		{92EE7E58-C737-41F9-B795-9B6ACF6AB0B8}.Debug|Win32.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
 		{92EE7E58-C737-41F9-B795-9B6ACF6AB0B8}.Debug|Win32.Build.0 = Debug|Win32
+		{92EE7E58-C737-41F9-B795-9B6ACF6AB0B8}.Debug|x64.ActiveCfg = Debug|x64
+		{92EE7E58-C737-41F9-B795-9B6ACF6AB0B8}.Debug|x64.Build.0 = Debug|x64
 		{92EE7E58-C737-41F9-B795-9B6ACF6AB0B8}.Release|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
 		{92EE7E58-C737-41F9-B795-9B6ACF6AB0B8}.Release|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
+		{92EE7E58-C737-41F9-B795-9B6ACF6AB0B8}.Release|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|x64
+		{92EE7E58-C737-41F9-B795-9B6ACF6AB0B8}.Release|x64.Build.0 = Release|x64
 	EndGlobalSection
 	GlobalSection(SolutionProperties) = preSolution
 		HideSolutionNode = FALSE