problems building strings

I'm trying to build strings so I can have a working source copy.

1. The docs talk about a Python strings implementation if the C code
isn't compiled.  That doesn't seem to work for me.

2. When compiling using MingW, I get the following errors:
(reformatted)

C:\python.exe setup.py build_ext --compiler=mingw32
running build_ext
building 'jarow' extension
writing build\temp.win32-2.3\Release\jarow.def
c:\MinGW\bin\gcc.exe -mno-cygwin -shared \
-s build\temp.win32-2.3\Release\jarow.o
 build\temp.win32-2.3\Release\jarow.def
-LC:\Python23\libs
-LC:\Python23\PCBuild
-lpython23
-o build\lib.win32-2.3\jarow.pyd

build\temp.win32-2.3\Release\jarow.o(.text+0x7d0):\
  jarow.c: undefined reference t_imp__PyString_Type'

build\temp.win32-2.3\Release\jarow.o(.text+0x7de):\
  jarow.c: undefined reference t_imp__PyString_Type'

3. Does this require Microsoft's C compiler?
(and an old version at that)

C:\python.exe setup.py install
running install
running build
running build_ext
error: Python was built with version 6 of Visual Studio, and extensions
need to be built with the same version of the compiler, but it isn't
installed.

Maybe the binary of the needed files can be put in CVS or a separate
distribution?

Robert



-------------------------------------------------------
This SF.Net email is sponsored by: IntelliVIEW -- Interactive Reporting
Tool for open source databases. Create drag-&-drop reports. Save time
by over 75%! Publish reports on the web. Export to DOC, XLS, RTF, etc.
Download a FREE copy at http://www.intelliview.com/go/osdn_nl