diff --git a/PCbuild/debug.vsprops b/PCbuild/debug.vsprops
index 59acd90..2be7f74 100644
--- a/PCbuild/debug.vsprops
+++ b/PCbuild/debug.vsprops
@@ -8,4 +8,8 @@
 		Name="VCCLCompilerTool"
 		PreprocessorDefinitions="_DEBUG"
 	/>
-</VisualStudioPropertySheet>
\ No newline at end of file
+	<UserMacro
+		Name="KillPythonExe"
+		Value="$(OutDir)\kill_python_d.exe"
+	/>
+</VisualStudioPropertySheet>
diff --git a/PCbuild/kill_python.c b/PCbuild/kill_python.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ee22e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PCbuild/kill_python.c
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+/*
+ * Helper program for killing lingering python[_d].exe processes before
+ * building, thus attempting to avoid build failures due to files being
+ * locked.
+ */
+
+#include <windows.h>
+#include <wchar.h>
+#include <tlhelp32.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+#pragma comment(lib, "psapi")
+
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+#define PYTHON_EXE          (L"python_d.exe")
+#define PYTHON_EXE_LEN      (12)
+#define KILL_PYTHON_EXE     (L"kill_python_d.exe")
+#define KILL_PYTHON_EXE_LEN (17)
+#else
+#define PYTHON_EXE          (L"python.exe")
+#define PYTHON_EXE_LEN      (10)
+#define KILL_PYTHON_EXE     (L"kill_python.exe")
+#define KILL_PYTHON_EXE_LEN (15)
+#endif
+
+int
+main(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+    HANDLE   hp, hsp, hsm; /* process, snapshot processes, snapshot modules */
+    DWORD    dac, our_pid;
+    size_t   len;
+    wchar_t  path[MAX_PATH+1];
+
+    MODULEENTRY32W  me;
+    PROCESSENTRY32W pe;
+
+    me.dwSize = sizeof(MODULEENTRY32W);
+    pe.dwSize = sizeof(PROCESSENTRY32W);
+
+    memset(path, 0, MAX_PATH+1);
+
+    our_pid = GetCurrentProcessId();
+
+    hsm = CreateToolhelp32Snapshot(TH32CS_SNAPMODULE, our_pid);
+    if (hsm == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
+        printf("CreateToolhelp32Snapshot[1] failed: %d\n", GetLastError());
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    if (!Module32FirstW(hsm, &me)) {
+        printf("Module32FirstW[1] failed: %d\n", GetLastError());
+        CloseHandle(hsm);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * Enumerate over the modules for the current process in order to find
+     * kill_process[_d].exe, then take a note of the directory it lives in.
+     */
+    do {
+        if (_wcsnicmp(me.szModule, KILL_PYTHON_EXE, KILL_PYTHON_EXE_LEN))
+            continue;
+
+        len = wcsnlen_s(me.szExePath, MAX_PATH) - KILL_PYTHON_EXE_LEN;
+        wcsncpy_s(path, MAX_PATH+1, me.szExePath, len); 
+
+        break;
+
+    } while (Module32NextW(hsm, &me));
+
+    CloseHandle(hsm);
+
+    if (path == NULL) {
+        printf("failed to discern directory of running process\n");
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * Take a snapshot of system processes.  Enumerate over the snapshot,
+     * looking for python processes.  When we find one, verify it lives
+     * in the same directory we live in.  If it does, kill it.  If we're
+     * unable to kill it, treat this as a fatal error and return 1.
+     * 
+     * The rationale behind this is that we're called at the start of the 
+     * build process on the basis that we'll take care of killing any
+     * running instances, such that the build won't encounter permission
+     * denied errors during linking. If we can't kill one of the processes,
+     * we can't provide this assurance, and the build shouldn't start.
+     */
+
+    hsp = CreateToolhelp32Snapshot(TH32CS_SNAPPROCESS, 0);
+    if (hsp == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
+        printf("CreateToolhelp32Snapshot[2] failed: %d\n", GetLastError());
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    if (!Process32FirstW(hsp, &pe)) {
+        printf("Process32FirstW failed: %d\n", GetLastError());
+        CloseHandle(hsp);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    dac = PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION | PROCESS_VM_READ | PROCESS_TERMINATE;
+    do {
+
+        /*
+         * XXX TODO: if we really wanted to be fancy, we could check the 
+         * modules for all processes (not just the python[_d].exe ones)
+         * and see if any of our DLLs are loaded (i.e. python30[_d].dll),
+         * as that would also inhibit our ability to rebuild the solution.
+         * Not worth loosing sleep over though; for now, a simple check 
+         * for just the python executable should be sufficient.
+         */
+
+        if (_wcsnicmp(pe.szExeFile, PYTHON_EXE, PYTHON_EXE_LEN))
+            /* This isn't a python process. */
+            continue;
+
+        /* It's a python process, so figure out which directory it's in... */
+        hsm = CreateToolhelp32Snapshot(TH32CS_SNAPMODULE, pe.th32ProcessID);
+        if (hsm == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
+            /* 
+             * If our module snapshot fails (which will happen if we don't own
+             * the process), just ignore it and continue.  (It seems different
+             * versions of Windows return different values for GetLastError()
+             * in this situation; it's easier to just ignore it and move on vs.
+             * stopping the build for what could be a false positive.)
+             */
+             continue;
+
+        if (!Module32FirstW(hsm, &me)) {
+            printf("Module32FirstW[2] failed: %d\n", GetLastError());
+            CloseHandle(hsp);
+            CloseHandle(hsm);
+            return 1;
+        }
+
+        do {
+            if (_wcsnicmp(me.szModule, PYTHON_EXE, PYTHON_EXE_LEN))
+                /* Wrong module, we're looking for python[_d].exe... */
+                continue;
+
+            if (_wcsnicmp(path, me.szExePath, len))
+                /* Process doesn't live in our directory. */
+                break;
+
+            /* Python process residing in the right directory, kill it!  */
+            hp = OpenProcess(dac, FALSE, pe.th32ProcessID);
+            if (!hp) {
+                printf("OpenProcess failed: %d\n", GetLastError());
+                CloseHandle(hsp);
+                CloseHandle(hsm);
+                return 1;
+            }
+
+            if (!TerminateProcess(hp, 1)) {
+                printf("TerminateProcess failed: %d\n", GetLastError());
+                CloseHandle(hsp);
+                CloseHandle(hsm);
+                CloseHandle(hp);
+                return 1;
+            }
+
+            CloseHandle(hp);
+            break;
+
+        } while (Module32NextW(hsm, &me));
+
+        CloseHandle(hsm);
+
+    } while (Process32NextW(hsp, &pe));
+
+    CloseHandle(hsp);
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* vi: set ts=8 sw=4 sts=4 expandtab */
diff --git a/PCbuild/kill_python.vcproj b/PCbuild/kill_python.vcproj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f11075
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PCbuild/kill_python.vcproj
@@ -0,0 +1,287 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Windows-1252"?>
+<VisualStudioProject
+	ProjectType="Visual C++"
+	Version="9.00"
+	Name="kill_python"
+	ProjectGUID="{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}"
+	RootNamespace="kill_python"
+	Keyword="Win32Proj"
+	TargetFrameworkVersion="196613"
+	>
+	<Platforms>
+		<Platform
+			Name="Win32"
+		/>
+		<Platform
+			Name="x64"
+		/>
+	</Platforms>
+	<ToolFiles>
+	</ToolFiles>
+	<Configurations>
+		<Configuration
+			Name="Debug|Win32"
+			ConfigurationType="1"
+			InheritedPropertySheets=".\pyproject.vsprops;.\debug.vsprops"
+			CharacterSet="0"
+			>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPreBuildEventTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCCustomBuildTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCXMLDataGeneratorTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCWebServiceProxyGeneratorTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCMIDLTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCCLCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCManagedResourceCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCResourceCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCLinkerTool"
+				OutputFile="$(OutDir)\$(ProjectName)_d.exe"
+				SubSystem="1"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCALinkTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCManifestTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCXDCMakeTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCBscMakeTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCFxCopTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCAppVerifierTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPostBuildEventTool"
+				Description="Killing existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
+			/>
+		</Configuration>
+		<Configuration
+			Name="Debug|x64"
+			ConfigurationType="1"
+			InheritedPropertySheets=".\pyproject.vsprops;.\debug.vsprops;.\x64.vsprops"
+			CharacterSet="0"
+			>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPreBuildEventTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCCustomBuildTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCXMLDataGeneratorTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCWebServiceProxyGeneratorTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCMIDLTool"
+				TargetEnvironment="3"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCCLCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCManagedResourceCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCResourceCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCLinkerTool"
+				OutputFile="$(OutDir)\$(ProjectName)_d.exe"
+				SubSystem="1"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCALinkTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCManifestTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCXDCMakeTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCBscMakeTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCFxCopTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCAppVerifierTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPostBuildEventTool"
+				Description="Killing existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
+			/>
+		</Configuration>
+		<Configuration
+			Name="Release|Win32"
+			ConfigurationType="1"
+			InheritedPropertySheets=".\pyproject.vsprops;.\release.vsprops"
+			CharacterSet="0"
+			WholeProgramOptimization="1"
+			>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPreBuildEventTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCCustomBuildTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCXMLDataGeneratorTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCWebServiceProxyGeneratorTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCMIDLTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCCLCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCManagedResourceCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCResourceCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCLinkerTool"
+				SubSystem="1"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCALinkTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCManifestTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCXDCMakeTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCBscMakeTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCFxCopTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCAppVerifierTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPostBuildEventTool"
+				Description="Killing existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
+			/>
+		</Configuration>
+		<Configuration
+			Name="Release|x64"
+			ConfigurationType="1"
+			InheritedPropertySheets=".\pyproject.vsprops;.\release.vsprops;.\x64.vsprops"
+			CharacterSet="0"
+			WholeProgramOptimization="1"
+			>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPreBuildEventTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCCustomBuildTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCXMLDataGeneratorTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCWebServiceProxyGeneratorTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCMIDLTool"
+				TargetEnvironment="3"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCCLCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCManagedResourceCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCResourceCompilerTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCLinkerTool"
+				SubSystem="1"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCALinkTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCManifestTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCXDCMakeTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCBscMakeTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCFxCopTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCAppVerifierTool"
+			/>
+			<Tool
+				Name="VCPostBuildEventTool"
+				Description="Killing existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
+			/>
+		</Configuration>
+	</Configurations>
+	<References>
+	</References>
+	<Files>
+		<Filter
+			Name="Source Files"
+			>
+			<File
+				RelativePath=".\kill_python.c"
+				>
+			</File>
+		</Filter>
+	</Files>
+	<Globals>
+	</Globals>
+</VisualStudioProject>
diff --git a/PCbuild/pcbuild.sln b/PCbuild/pcbuild.sln
index 6838d62..a12c055 100644
--- a/PCbuild/pcbuild.sln
+++ b/PCbuild/pcbuild.sln
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "pythoncore", "pythoncore.vcproj", "{CF7AC3D1-E2DF-41D2-BEA6-1E2556CDEA26}"
 	ProjectSection(ProjectDependencies) = postProject
 		{F0E0541E-F17D-430B-97C4-93ADF0DD284E} = {F0E0541E-F17D-430B-97C4-93ADF0DD284E}
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31} = {6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}
 		{C73F0EC1-358B-4177-940F-0846AC8B04CD} = {C73F0EC1-358B-4177-940F-0846AC8B04CD}
 	EndProjectSection
 EndProject
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@
 	EndProjectSection
 EndProject
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "w9xpopen", "w9xpopen.vcproj", "{E9E0A1F6-0009-4E8C-B8F8-1B8F5D49A058}"
+	ProjectSection(ProjectDependencies) = postProject
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31} = {6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}
+	EndProjectSection
 EndProject
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "make_buildinfo", "make_buildinfo.vcproj", "{C73F0EC1-358B-4177-940F-0846AC8B04CD}"
 EndProject
@@ -36,6 +40,7 @@
 EndProject
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "_bsddb", "_bsddb.vcproj", "{B4D38F3F-68FB-42EC-A45D-E00657BB3627}"
 	ProjectSection(ProjectDependencies) = postProject
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31} = {6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}
 		{62172C7D-B39E-409A-B352-370FF5098C19} = {62172C7D-B39E-409A-B352-370FF5098C19}
 		{CF7AC3D1-E2DF-41D2-BEA6-1E2556CDEA26} = {CF7AC3D1-E2DF-41D2-BEA6-1E2556CDEA26}
 	EndProjectSection
@@ -117,8 +122,16 @@
 	EndProjectSection
 EndProject
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "_bsddb44", "_bsddb44.vcproj", "{62172C7D-B39E-409A-B352-370FF5098C19}"
+	ProjectSection(ProjectDependencies) = postProject
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31} = {6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}
+	EndProjectSection
 EndProject
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "sqlite3", "sqlite3.vcproj", "{A1A295E5-463C-437F-81CA-1F32367685DA}"
+	ProjectSection(ProjectDependencies) = postProject
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31} = {6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}
+	EndProjectSection
+EndProject
+Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "kill_python", "kill_python.vcproj", "{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}"
 EndProject
 Global
 	GlobalSection(SolutionConfigurationPlatforms) = preSolution
@@ -524,6 +537,22 @@
 		{A1A295E5-463C-437F-81CA-1F32367685DA}.Release|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
 		{A1A295E5-463C-437F-81CA-1F32367685DA}.Release|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|x64
 		{A1A295E5-463C-437F-81CA-1F32367685DA}.Release|x64.Build.0 = Release|x64
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.Debug|Win32.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.Debug|Win32.Build.0 = Debug|Win32
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.Debug|x64.ActiveCfg = Debug|x64
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.Debug|x64.Build.0 = Debug|x64
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.PGInstrument|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.PGInstrument|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.PGInstrument|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|x64
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.PGInstrument|x64.Build.0 = Release|x64
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.PGUpdate|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.PGUpdate|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.PGUpdate|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|x64
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.PGUpdate|x64.Build.0 = Release|x64
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.Release|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.Release|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.Release|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|x64
+		{6DE10744-E396-40A5-B4E2-1B69AA7C8D31}.Release|x64.Build.0 = Release|x64
 	EndGlobalSection
 	GlobalSection(SolutionProperties) = preSolution
 		HideSolutionNode = FALSE
diff --git a/PCbuild/pythoncore.vcproj b/PCbuild/pythoncore.vcproj
index 930ee5f..9c9c239 100644
--- a/PCbuild/pythoncore.vcproj
+++ b/PCbuild/pythoncore.vcproj
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				Description="generate buildinfo"
-				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; $(ConfigurationName)"
+				Description="Generate build information and kill existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; Release&#x0D;&#x0A;&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				Description="generate buildinfo"
-				CommandLine="$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe $(ConfigurationName)"
+				Description="Generate build information and kill existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; Release&#x0D;&#x0A;&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -211,8 +211,8 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				Description="generate buildinfo"
-				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; $(ConfigurationName)"
+				Description="Generate build information and kill existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; Debug&#x0D;&#x0A;&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -289,8 +289,8 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				Description="generate buildinfo"
-				CommandLine="$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe $(ConfigurationName)"
+				Description="Generate build information and kill existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; Debug&#x0D;&#x0A;&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -363,8 +363,8 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				Description="generate buildinfo"
-				CommandLine="$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe Release"
+				Description="Generate build information and kill existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; Release&#x0D;&#x0A;&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -438,8 +438,8 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				Description="generate buildinfo"
-				CommandLine="$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe $(ConfigurationName)"
+				Description="Generate build information and kill existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; Release&#x0D;&#x0A;&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -513,8 +513,8 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				Description="generate buildinfo"
-				CommandLine="$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe Release"
+				Description="Generate build information and kill existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; Release&#x0D;&#x0A;&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -588,8 +588,8 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				Description="generate buildinfo"
-				CommandLine="$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe $(ConfigurationName)"
+				Description="Generate build information and kill existing Python processes..."
+				CommandLine="&quot;$(SolutionDir)make_buildinfo.exe&quot; Release&#x0D;&#x0A;&quot;$(KillPythonExe)&quot;"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
diff --git a/PCbuild/release.vsprops b/PCbuild/release.vsprops
index 4bbda68..6d6842d 100644
--- a/PCbuild/release.vsprops
+++ b/PCbuild/release.vsprops
@@ -8,4 +8,8 @@
 		Name="VCCLCompilerTool"
 		PreprocessorDefinitions="NDEBUG"
 	/>
+	<UserMacro
+		Name="KillPythonExe"
+		Value="$(OutDir)\kill_python.exe"
+	/>	
 </VisualStudioPropertySheet>
diff --git a/Tools/buildbot/Makefile b/Tools/buildbot/Makefile
deleted file mode 100644
index 1660231..0000000
--- a/Tools/buildbot/Makefile
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-all:	kill_python.exe
-	./kill_python.exe
-
-kill_python.exe:	kill_python.c
-	gcc -o kill_python.exe kill_python.c -lpsapi
-
diff --git a/Tools/buildbot/build-amd64.bat b/Tools/buildbot/build-amd64.bat
index 0425d19..1d828eb 100644
--- a/Tools/buildbot/build-amd64.bat
+++ b/Tools/buildbot/build-amd64.bat
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 @rem Used by the buildbot "compile" step.
 cmd /c Tools\buildbot\external-amd64.bat
 call "%VS90COMNTOOLS%\..\..\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86_amd64
-REM cmd /q/c Tools\buildbot\kill_python.bat
 cmd /c Tools\buildbot\clean-amd64.bat
 vcbuild PCbuild\pcbuild.sln "Debug|x64"
diff --git a/Tools/buildbot/build.bat b/Tools/buildbot/build.bat
index 5087981..6bac3ed 100644
--- a/Tools/buildbot/build.bat
+++ b/Tools/buildbot/build.bat
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 @rem Used by the buildbot "compile" step.
 cmd /c Tools\buildbot\external.bat
 call "%VS90COMNTOOLS%vsvars32.bat"
-cmd /q/c Tools\buildbot\kill_python.bat
 cmd /c Tools\buildbot\clean.bat
 vcbuild /useenv PCbuild\pcbuild.sln "Debug|Win32"
 
diff --git a/Tools/buildbot/buildmsi.bat b/Tools/buildbot/buildmsi.bat
index 5410193..962df66 100644
--- a/Tools/buildbot/buildmsi.bat
+++ b/Tools/buildbot/buildmsi.bat
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 )
 
 @rem build Python
-cmd /q/c Tools\buildbot\kill_python.bat
 vcbuild /useenv PCbuild\pcbuild.sln "Release|Win32"
 
 @rem build the documentation
diff --git a/Tools/buildbot/kill_python.bat b/Tools/buildbot/kill_python.bat
deleted file mode 100644
index d78b6d4..0000000
--- a/Tools/buildbot/kill_python.bat
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-cd Tools\buildbot
-nmake /C /S /f kill_python.mak
-kill_python.exe
diff --git a/Tools/buildbot/kill_python.c b/Tools/buildbot/kill_python.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 5ba450f..0000000
--- a/Tools/buildbot/kill_python.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,68 +0,0 @@
-/* This program looks for processes which have build\PCbuild\python.exe
-   in their path and terminates them. */
-#include <windows.h>
-#include <psapi.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
-
-int main()
-{
-	DWORD pids[1024], cbNeeded;
-	int i, num_processes;
-	if (!EnumProcesses(pids, sizeof(pids), &cbNeeded)) {
-		printf("EnumProcesses failed\n");
-		return 1;
-	}
-	num_processes = cbNeeded/sizeof(pids[0]);
-	for (i = 0; i < num_processes; i++) {
-		HANDLE hProcess;
-		char path[MAX_PATH];
-		HMODULE mods[1024];
-		int k, num_mods;
-		hProcess = OpenProcess(PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION 
-					| PROCESS_VM_READ 
-					|  PROCESS_TERMINATE ,
-					FALSE, pids[i]);
-		if (!hProcess)
-			/* process not accessible */
-			continue;
-		if (!EnumProcessModules(hProcess, mods, sizeof(mods), &cbNeeded)) {
-			/* For unknown reasons, this sometimes returns ERROR_PARTIAL_COPY;
-			   this apparently means we are not supposed to read the process. */
-			if (GetLastError() == ERROR_PARTIAL_COPY) {
-				CloseHandle(hProcess);
-				continue;
-			}
-			printf("EnumProcessModules failed: %d\n", GetLastError());
-			return 1;
-		}
-		if (!GetModuleFileNameEx(hProcess, NULL, path, sizeof(path))) {
-			printf("GetProcessImageFileName failed\n");
-			return 1;
-		}
-
-		_strlwr(path);
-		/* printf("%s\n", path); */
-
-		/* Check if we are running a buildbot version of Python.
-
-		   On Windows, this will always be a debug build from the
-		   PCbuild directory.  build\\PCbuild\\python_d.exe
-		   
-		   On Cygwin, the pathname is similar to other Unixes.
-		   Use \\build\\python.exe to ensure we don't match
-		   PCbuild\\python.exe which could be a normal instance
-		   of Python running on vanilla Windows.
-		*/
-		if ((strstr(path, "pcbuild\\python_d.exe") != NULL) ||
-		    (strstr(path, "\\build\\python.exe") != NULL)) {
-			printf("Terminating %s (pid %d)\n", path, pids[i]);
-			if (!TerminateProcess(hProcess, 1)) {
-				printf("Termination failed: %d\n", GetLastError());
-				return 1;
-			}
-			return 0;
-		}
-
-		CloseHandle(hProcess);
-	}
-}
diff --git a/Tools/buildbot/kill_python.mak b/Tools/buildbot/kill_python.mak
deleted file mode 100644
index 6027d3f..0000000
--- a/Tools/buildbot/kill_python.mak
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-kill_python.exe:	kill_python.c
-		cl -nologo -o kill_python.exe kill_python.c psapi.lib