Logged In: YES 
user_id=1178573

I have the same or similar problem.
While python24.dll(Python 2.4 for Windows) uses msvcr71.dll 
for CRT, host C++ program embeding Python 2.4 as a script 
engine, in my project, is compiled by VC++ 6.0 (msvcrt.dll).
So, the following code snip makes a crash.

FILE* fp = fopen("somecode.py", "rt"); // uses msvcrt.dll
PyRun_SimpleFile(fp, "somecode.py); // uses msvcr71.dll 
inside. Cause of a crash.

In my case, I must use VC++ 6.0 and I want clients of my 
program to install Python 2.4 from www.python.org.
How do I solve this problem ?