I'm using the g++ compiler and it can handle the basic stuff, but as soon as I try to use pointers it gives me errors. I 100% know the code is correct because I even pasted code from C++ Primer 5th Edition into it and it still isn't working. I did download a load of dev libraries when trying to install SFML so I'm thinking maybe that did it, but I don't know. I also don't have the slightest idea how to reverse it.

This is the code I pasted from C++ Primer 5th Edition, which apparently is the best book for learning. I've tried compiling it with g++ main.cpp -o main, and also with the -std=C++11 flag.

#include <iostream>
int main()
{
	using namespace std;
	int updates = 6;
// declare a variable
	int * p_updates;
// declare pointer to an int
	p_updates = &updates;
// assign address of int to pointer
// express values two ways
	cout << “Values: updates = “ << updates;
	cout << “, *p_updates = “ << *p_updates << endl;
// express address two ways
	cout << “Addresses: &updates = “ << &updates;
	cout << “, p_updates = “ << p_updates << endl;
// use pointer to change value
	*p_updates = *p_updates + 1;
	cout << “Now updates = “ << updates << endl;
	return 0;
}

Why does this happen every time I try and learn anything new in C++?

I 100% know the code is correct

Well, i work as a c++ developer, and i am never brave enough to say that when i have a compile error.

At first look it seems fine for me but... please, write the compile error, because it's much more easier to help if we see what's your problem.

Sorry guys! This is the error:

 g++ main.cpp -o main
main.cpp:12:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
  cout << “Values: updates = “ << updates;
  ^
main.cpp:12:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:12:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp:12:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
main.cpp:12:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:12:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp:13:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
  cout << “, *p_updates = “ << *p_updates << endl;
  ^
main.cpp:13:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:13:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp:13:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
main.cpp:13:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:13:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp:15:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
  cout << “Addresses: &updates = “ << &updates;
  ^
main.cpp:15:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:15:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp:15:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
main.cpp:15:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:15:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp:16:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
  cout << “, p_updates = “ << p_updates << endl;
  ^
main.cpp:16:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:16:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp:16:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
main.cpp:16:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:16:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp:19:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
  cout << “Now updates = “ << updates << endl;
  ^
main.cpp:19:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:19:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp:19:2: error: stray ‘\342’ in program
main.cpp:19:2: error: stray ‘\200’ in program
main.cpp:19:2: error: stray ‘\234’ in program
main.cpp: In function ‘int main()’:
main.cpp:12:19: error: found ‘:’ in nested-name-specifier, expected ‘::’
  cout << “Values: updates = “ << updates;
                   ^
main.cpp:12:13: error: ‘Values’ has not been declared
  cout << “Values: updates = “ << updates;
             ^
main.cpp:12:35: error: expected primary-expression before ‘<<’ token
  cout << “Values: updates = “ << updates;
                                   ^
main.cpp:13:13: error: expected primary-expression before ‘,’ token
  cout << “, *p_updates = “ << *p_updates << endl;
             ^
main.cpp:13:32: error: expected primary-expression before ‘<<’ token
  cout << “, *p_updates = “ << *p_updates << endl;
                                ^
main.cpp:15:13: error: ‘Addresses’ was not declared in this scope
  cout << “Addresses: &updates = “ << &updates;
             ^
main.cpp:15:22: error: expected ‘;’ before ‘:’ token
  cout << “Addresses: &updates = “ << &updates;
                      ^
main.cpp:16:13: error: expected primary-expression before ‘,’ token
  cout << “, p_updates = “ << p_updates << endl;
             ^
main.cpp:16:31: error: expected primary-expression before ‘<<’ token
  cout << “, p_updates = “ << p_updates << endl;
                               ^
main.cpp:19:13: error: ‘Now’ was not declared in this scope
  cout << “Now updates = “ << updates << endl;
             ^
main.cpp:19:17: error: expected ‘;’ before ‘updates’
  cout << “Now updates = “ << updates << endl;

You're using the wrong quote marks. You're using “ while the correct mark is ".

Edit: Nvm, others answered it already.

Brilliant, thank you.