If there is a move to a later VC, let me suggest using VC9. I just 
downloaded beta 2 and they have made a number of improvements for native 
apps. In particular, you no longer have to download the platform sdk and 
edit config files to compile to native code. It works out of the box. I 
don't know what problems there may be recompiling the different 
extensions, but ruby and zlib compiled perfectly without jumping through 
any hoops.


Jack