Index: Lib/distutils/msvccompiler.py
===================================================================
--- Lib/distutils/msvccompiler.py	(revision 72717)
+++ Lib/distutils/msvccompiler.py	(working copy)
@@ -475,6 +475,11 @@
               build_temp=None,
               target_lang=None):
 
+        import os
+        orig_output_filename = output_filename
+        if not os.path.splitext(output_filename)[1]:
+            output_filename += ".tmp"
+
         if not self.initialized: self.initialize()
         (objects, output_dir) = self._fix_object_args (objects, output_dir)
         (libraries, library_dirs, runtime_library_dirs) = \
@@ -531,6 +536,8 @@
             self.mkpath (os.path.dirname (output_filename))
             try:
                 self.spawn ([self.linker] + ld_args)
+                if orig_output_filename != output_filename:
+                    os.rename(output_filename, orig_output_filename)
             except DistutilsExecError, msg:
                 raise LinkError, msg
 
Index: Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py
===================================================================
--- Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py	(revision 72717)
+++ Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py	(working copy)
@@ -299,7 +299,6 @@
         cmd.run()
         self.assertEquals(cmd.compiler, 'unix')
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(UNDER_MSVC8, 'not running this test for MSVC < 8')
     def test_get_outputs(self):
         tmp_dir = self.mkdtemp()
         c_file = os.path.join(tmp_dir, 'foo.c')