diff --git a/PCbuild9/_ssl.vcproj b/PCbuild9/_ssl.vcproj
index 14cb70cca5d..0fcad8dfdb0 100644
--- a/PCbuild9/_ssl.vcproj
+++ b/PCbuild9/_ssl.vcproj
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 			>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreBuildEventTool"
+				CommandLine="python.exe build_ssl.py $(ConfigurationName) $(PlatformName) -a"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCCustomBuildTool"
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				CommandLine="python.exe build_ssl.py $(ConfigurationName) $(PlatformName) -a"
+				CommandLine=""
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@
 			>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreBuildEventTool"
+				CommandLine="python.exe build_ssl.py $(ConfigurationName) $(PlatformName) -a"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCCustomBuildTool"
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				CommandLine="python.exe build_ssl.py $(ConfigurationName) $(PlatformName) -a"
+				CommandLine=""
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -161,6 +163,7 @@
 			>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreBuildEventTool"
+				CommandLine="python.exe build_ssl.py $(ConfigurationName) $(PlatformName) -a"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCCustomBuildTool"
@@ -191,7 +194,7 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				CommandLine="python.exe build_ssl.py $(ConfigurationName) $(PlatformName) -a"
+				CommandLine=""
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
@@ -233,6 +236,7 @@
 			>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreBuildEventTool"
+				CommandLine="python.exe build_ssl.py $(ConfigurationName) $(PlatformName) -a"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCCustomBuildTool"
@@ -264,7 +268,7 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCPreLinkEventTool"
-				CommandLine="python.exe build_ssl.py $(ConfigurationName) $(PlatformName) -a"
+				CommandLine=""
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
diff --git a/PCbuild9/pyd.vsprops b/PCbuild9/pyd.vsprops
index 173a78a34c5..2a69d9599bc 100644
--- a/PCbuild9/pyd.vsprops
+++ b/PCbuild9/pyd.vsprops
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@
 		Name="VCLinkerTool"
 		OutputFile="$(OutDir)\$(ProjectName).pyd"
 		ProgramDatabaseFile="$(OutDir)\$(ProjectName).pdb"
-		ImportLibrary="$(IntDir)\$(TargetName).lib"
+		ImportLibrary="$(OutDir)\$(TargetName).lib"
 	/>
 	<Tool
 		Name="VCPostBuildEventTool"
-		CommandLine="copy $(IntDir)\$(ProjectName).lib $(OutDir)"
+		CommandLine=""
 	/>
 </VisualStudioPropertySheet>
diff --git a/PCbuild9/pyd_d.vsprops b/PCbuild9/pyd_d.vsprops
index c29d563d722..8fc10b98588 100644
--- a/PCbuild9/pyd_d.vsprops
+++ b/PCbuild9/pyd_d.vsprops
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@
 		OutputFile="$(OutDir)\$(ProjectName)_d.pyd"
 		LinkIncremental="1"
 		ProgramDatabaseFile="$(OutDir)\$(ProjectName)_d.pdb"
-		ImportLibrary="$(IntDir)\$(TargetName).lib"
+		ImportLibrary="$(OutDir)\$(TargetName).lib"
 	/>
 	<Tool
 		Name="VCPostBuildEventTool"
-		CommandLine="copy $(IntDir)\$(ProjectName)_d.lib $(OutDir)"
+		CommandLine=""
 	/>
 </VisualStudioPropertySheet>
diff --git a/PCbuild9/python.vcproj b/PCbuild9/python.vcproj
index fa3c0e165f0..e470bedbed5 100644
--- a/PCbuild9/python.vcproj
+++ b/PCbuild9/python.vcproj
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@
 				OutputFile="$(OutDir)\python.exe"
 				SubSystem="1"
 				StackReserveSize="2000000"
+				OptimizeReferences="2"
+				EnableCOMDATFolding="2"
+				LinkTimeCodeGeneration="1"
 				BaseAddress="0x1d000000"
 			/>
 			<Tool
@@ -146,6 +149,9 @@
 				OutputFile="$(OutDir)\python.exe"
 				SubSystem="1"
 				StackReserveSize="2000000"
+				OptimizeReferences="2"
+				EnableCOMDATFolding="2"
+				LinkTimeCodeGeneration="1"
 				BaseAddress="0x1d000000"
 			/>
 			<Tool
diff --git a/PCbuild9/pythoncore.vcproj b/PCbuild9/pythoncore.vcproj
index 87cab016156..a8c25d69bb2 100644
--- a/PCbuild9/pythoncore.vcproj
+++ b/PCbuild9/pythoncore.vcproj
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@
 				OutputFile="$(OutDir)\$(PyDllName).dll"
 				IgnoreDefaultLibraryNames="libc"
 				ProgramDatabaseFile="$(OutDir)$(PyDllName).pdb"
+				OptimizeReferences="2"
+				EnableCOMDATFolding="2"
+				LinkTimeCodeGeneration="1"
 				BaseAddress="0x1e000000"
 				ImportLibrary="$(OutDir)$(PyDllName).lib"
 			/>
@@ -144,6 +147,9 @@
 				OutputFile="$(OutDir)\$(PyDllName).dll"
 				IgnoreDefaultLibraryNames="libc"
 				ProgramDatabaseFile="$(OutDir)$(PyDllName).pdb"
+				OptimizeReferences="2"
+				EnableCOMDATFolding="2"
+				LinkTimeCodeGeneration="1"
 				BaseAddress="0x1e000000"
 				ImportLibrary="$(OutDir)$(PyDllName).lib"
 			/>
diff --git a/PCbuild9/pythonw.vcproj b/PCbuild9/pythonw.vcproj
index c4ec4420c3e..6b08fa9679b 100644
--- a/PCbuild9/pythonw.vcproj
+++ b/PCbuild9/pythonw.vcproj
@@ -211,6 +211,9 @@
 				OutputFile="$(OutDir)\pythonw.exe"
 				SubSystem="2"
 				StackReserveSize="2000000"
+				OptimizeReferences="2"
+				EnableCOMDATFolding="2"
+				LinkTimeCodeGeneration="1"
 				BaseAddress="0x1d000000"
 				TargetMachine="1"
 			/>
@@ -287,6 +290,9 @@
 				OutputFile="$(OutDir)\pythonw.exe"
 				SubSystem="2"
 				StackReserveSize="2000000"
+				OptimizeReferences="2"
+				EnableCOMDATFolding="2"
+				LinkTimeCodeGeneration="1"
 				BaseAddress="0x1d000000"
 			/>
 			<Tool
diff --git a/PCbuild9/w9xpopen.vcproj b/PCbuild9/w9xpopen.vcproj
index 23f10565e48..9596806255a 100644
--- a/PCbuild9/w9xpopen.vcproj
+++ b/PCbuild9/w9xpopen.vcproj
@@ -199,7 +199,10 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
+				GenerateDebugInformation="false"
 				SubSystem="1"
+				OptimizeReferences="2"
+				EnableCOMDATFolding="2"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCALinkTool"
@@ -268,7 +271,10 @@
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCLinkerTool"
+				GenerateDebugInformation="false"
 				SubSystem="1"
+				OptimizeReferences="2"
+				EnableCOMDATFolding="2"
 			/>
 			<Tool
 				Name="VCALinkTool"