diff --git a/configure/os/CONFIG.Common.win32-x86-mingw b/configure/os/CONFIG.Common.win32-x86-mingw
index 0f66df17c..2ed409c23 100644
--- a/configure/os/CONFIG.Common.win32-x86-mingw
+++ b/configure/os/CONFIG.Common.win32-x86-mingw
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ ARCH_DEP_LDFLAGS += -m32
 OP_SYS_CPPFLAGS = -D_MINGW
 
 EXE = .exe
+RES = .coff
 
 # Use .o for static object files, .obj for shared library object files
 OBJ_NO  = .o
diff --git a/configure/os/CONFIG.linux-x86.win32-x86-mingw b/configure/os/CONFIG.linux-x86.win32-x86-mingw
index 6c1ed350d..297030765 100644
--- a/configure/os/CONFIG.linux-x86.win32-x86-mingw
+++ b/configure/os/CONFIG.linux-x86.win32-x86-mingw
@@ -7,19 +7,18 @@
 # Include common gnu compiler definitions
 include $(CONFIG)/CONFIG.gnuCommon
 
-RES = .coff
+# Add resource compiler
 RCCMD = $(GNU_BIN)/$(CMPLR_PREFIX)windres$(CMPLR_SUFFIX) $(INCLUDES) $< $@
 
-# No -fPIC avoids "-fPIC ignored for target (all code is position independent)"
+# Remove -fPIC flags, add out-implib
 SHRLIB_CFLAGS =
 SHRLIB_LDFLAGS = -shared \
     -Wl,--out-implib,$(DLLSTUB_PREFIX)$*$(DLLSTUB_SUFFIX)
 LOADABLE_SHRLIB_LDFLAGS = -shared \
     -Wl,--out-implib,$(DLLSTUB_PREFIX)$*$(DLLSTUB_SUFFIX)
 
-# Override linking with gcc library from CONFIG.gnuCommon
+# Don't link with gcc library
 GNU_LDLIBS_YES =
 
 # Link with winsock2
 OP_SYS_LDLIBS = -lws2_32
-
diff --git a/configure/os/CONFIG.win32-x86-mingw.win32-x86-mingw b/configure/os/CONFIG.win32-x86-mingw.win32-x86-mingw
index 1983a6b42..3f1cb2fd7 100644
--- a/configure/os/CONFIG.win32-x86-mingw.win32-x86-mingw
+++ b/configure/os/CONFIG.win32-x86-mingw.win32-x86-mingw
@@ -9,24 +9,29 @@
 # Include common gnu compiler definitions
 include $(CONFIG)/CONFIG.gnuCommon
 
+# Undo various things set by CONFIG.gnuCommon
+
 CMPLR_PREFIX =
 
+# Remove $(GNU_BIN)/ path
 CC  = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)gcc
 CCC = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)g++
 AR  = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)ar -rc
 LD  = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)ld -r
 RANLIB = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)ranlib
-RES = .coff
+
+# Add resource compiler
 RCCMD = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)windres $(INCLUDES) $< $@
 
-# No -fPIC avoids "-fPIC ignored for target (all code is position independent)"
+# Remove -fPIC flags, add out-implib
 SHRLIB_CFLAGS =
 SHRLIB_LDFLAGS = -shared \
     -Wl,--out-implib,$(DLLSTUB_PREFIX)$*$(DLLSTUB_SUFFIX)
 LOADABLE_SHRLIB_LDFLAGS = -shared \
     -Wl,--out-implib,$(DLLSTUB_PREFIX)$*$(DLLSTUB_SUFFIX)
 
-# Override linking with gcc library from CONFIG.gnuCommon
+# Don't link with gcc library
 GNU_LDLIBS_YES =
 
+# Link with winsock2
 OP_SYS_LDLIBS = -lws2_32
diff --git a/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.Common.win32-x86-mingw b/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.Common.win32-x86-mingw
index c2691cb0d..39f219b19 100644
--- a/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.Common.win32-x86-mingw
+++ b/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.Common.win32-x86-mingw
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 #
 # Site Specific definitions for win32-x86-mingw target
 
-# If readline is not installed comment the following line
-# to omit command-line editing and history support
+# If readline is available uncomment the following line
+# to enable command-line editing and history support
 #COMMANDLINE_LIBRARY = READLINE
-
diff --git a/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.linux-x86.win32-x86-mingw b/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.linux-x86.win32-x86-mingw
index a9719ae46..7df172901 100644
--- a/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.linux-x86.win32-x86-mingw
+++ b/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.linux-x86.win32-x86-mingw
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 #-------------------------------------------------------
 
 # Early versions of the MinGW cross-build tools can only build
-# static (non-DLL) libraries. The version of gcc 4.6.3 for Ubuntu
-# succeeds, but Fedora's 4.4.6 does not and needs these uncommented:
+# static (non-DLL) libraries. For example RHEL's cross-gcc 4.4.6
+# needs these uncommented, cross-gcc 4.6.3 for Ubuntu does not:
 SHARED_LIBRARIES = NO
 STATIC_BUILD = YES
 
@@ -18,4 +18,5 @@ STATIC_BUILD = YES
 #CMPLR_PREFIX = i686-w64-mingw32-
 # RHEL:
 CMPLR_PREFIX = i686-pc-mingw32-
-
+# Debian?
+#CMPLR_PREFIX = i586-mingw32msvc-
diff --git a/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.win32-x86-mingw.win32-x86-mingw b/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.win32-x86-mingw.win32-x86-mingw
index 259d1e0c8..9022b8e2b 100644
--- a/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.win32-x86-mingw.win32-x86-mingw
+++ b/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.win32-x86-mingw.win32-x86-mingw
@@ -3,15 +3,9 @@
 # $Revision-Id$
 #
 # Site Specific definitions for win32-x86-mingw target
-# Only the local epics system manager should modify this file
 
+# The MinGW bin directory must be in your path.
 
-# Uncomment the following settings for MinGW_w32 releases
-# <MinGW directory>/bin should be in your path
-#CMPLR_PREFIX=i686-w64-mingw32-
-#CC = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)gcc
-#CCC = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)g++
-#AR = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)ar -rc
-#LD = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)ld -r
-#RANLIB = $(CMPLR_PREFIX)ranlib
-
+# Set the compiler prefix for your MinGW installation
+#CMPLR_PREFIX = i686-w64-mingw32-
+#CMPLR_PREFIX = i586-mingw32msvc-