> * step 2: install VC++ - now the optimizing version is free for > download from: http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/ Nice one Russ, also hadn't heard of this. On a related note, I also just spotted VC6 SP6 has been released here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/downloads/updates/sp/vs6/sp6/default.aspx -- gl