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This is still an issue with 2.4a1. I'm not sure what the 
autodetection buys given that currently it's not possible to 
build extensions with 2.4a1 using mingw which are compatible 
with the stock python.org binary.

Can I suggest that this patch be applied, and issues around 
autodetection be deferred until there is a demonstrated need?

I've uploaded a revised patch for 2.4a1 (tested against the 
python.org supplied MSI).