It looks that existing documentation doesn't work well for Windows 8.1 users. 1. Windows 8.1 SDK needs to be installed and not Windows 7 SDK as documentation suggests. https://github.com/ErikDubbelboer/node-sleep/issues/18#issuecomment-76309396 2. VS 2013 Community should be installed instead of suggested VS 2013 Express https://github.com/bnoordhuis/node-iconv/issues/110#issuecomment-84412002