read.open(filename_user.c_str(), ios::in);
if( ! read )
{
  //error handler here
}
else
     while(getline(read, linecount, '\n'))
     {
          ++lc;
     }

 
unsigned int lc=0;
     reDo:
     cout << "\n\n\n\n\tUser, please Enter the filename (with directory) below:\n\n\t\t::==:: ";
     getline(cin, filename_user); 
 
     ifstream read(filename_user.c_str());
 
     if(read.fail())
     {
                    cout << "\n\n\t";
                    error_slashes();
                    cerr << "\n\n\t   Sorry, but this program was unable to locate/read\n\n\t\t\tthe given file!\n\n\t";
                    error_slashes();
 
                    cin.get();
                    cout << "\n\n\t\tDo you wish to open a new file? (y/n[quit]) ";
                    cin >> choice;
 
                    if(choice=='y')
                    {
                                   goto reDo;
                                   }
                                   else
                                   {
                                       exit(1);
                                       }
                    }
     read.open(filename_user.c_str(), ios::in);
     while(getline(read, linecount, '\n'))
     {
                         ++lc;
                         }
                         read.clear();//clear memory
                         read.close();
                         read.open(filename_user.c_str(), ios::in);
                         while(getline(read, lines, '\n'))
                         {
                                             cout << lines << "\n\n\n";
                                             }
                         cout << "\n\n\t\t" << lc;

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <fstream>
 
using namespace std;
 
int main()
{
    string buff;
    int count = 0;
    ifstream input("c:\\input.txt"); //or something
    if (!input.is_open()) return 1; // error handling goes here
    while (getline(input, buff, '\n')) count++;
    cout << "file has " << count << " lines";
    return 0;
}