--- \Downloads\readme.txt.orig 2006-06-20 10:03:29.779288300 +0100 +++ \Downloads\readme.txt 2006-06-20 10:08:52.833817900 +0100 @@ -280,12 +280,21 @@ Toolkit Compiler. This provides a way of building Python using freely available software. +Note that Microsoft have withdrawn the free MS Toolkit Compiler, so this can +no longer be considered a supported option. The instructions are still +correct, but you need to already have a copy of the compiler in order to use +them. Microsoft now supply Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition for free, but this +is NOT compatible with Visual C++ 7.1 (it uses a different C runtime), and so +cannot be used to build a version of Python compatible with the standard +python.org build. If you are interested in using Visual C++ 2005 Express +Edition, however, you should look at the PCBuild8 directory. + Requirements To build Python, the following tools are required: * The Visual C++ Toolkit Compiler - from http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/ + no longer available for download - see above * A recent Platform SDK from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=484269e2-3b89-47e3-8eb7-1f2be6d7123a * The .NET 1.1 SDK