Please post your VC++ project settings

[strychn]

c/c++
====
pre processor definitions:
WIN32,NDEBUG,_CONSOLE,_MBCS,BUILD_FOR_WINDOWS,LUCL IN,_WIN32_WINNT=0x0400

project options:
/nologo /MT /w /W0 /GX /O2 /Ob2 /D "WIN32" /D "NDEBUG" /D "_CONSOLE" /D "_MBCS" /D "BUILD_FOR_WINDOWS" /D "LUCLIN" /D _WIN32_WINNT=0x0400 /FR"../Build/Zone/" /Fp"../Build/Zone/Zone.pch" /YX /Fo"../Build/Zone/" /Fd"../Build/Zone/" /FD /c

Link
===
object/library modules:
kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib wsock32.lib zlib.lib mysqlclient.lib

Project Options:
kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib

Resources
=======
PreProcessor Definitions:
NDEBUG

Project Options:
/l 0x409 /d "NDEBUG"

Final output of ZoneNT.exe -> 532kb

make sure you've got the right active configuration set (Win32 Release). perhaps get a different copy of the source code and try that. ???