To build python with MSVC 2008:
Download the Python-2.5.1.tar.bz2 from ["http://www.python.org/download/releases/2.5.1/"]
- Extract the files
- Open .../Python-2.5.1/PCbuild8/pcbuild.sln
- Remove from the solution explorer the packages tkinter, sqlite, bsdb, and bz2
Under Project->properties->configuration properties switch debug to release
- Hit f5
- The .exe's should be under .../Python-2.5.1/PCbuild8/Win32Release
NOTES: Python 2.6 and 3.0 should be building under 2008 without package removal, so this is most likely a temporary fix.