diff --git a/src/db/db/dbHash.h b/src/db/db/dbHash.h
index 4422dc45b..fb900ca78 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbHash.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbHash.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 namespace std_ext = __gnu_cxx;
 #  define DB_HASH_NAMESPACE __gnu_cxx
 #else
+#   define _SILENCE_STDEXT_HASH_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS
 #   include <hash_map>
 #   include <hash_set>
 namespace std_ext = std;
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbLibraryManager.cc b/src/db/db/dbLibraryManager.cc
index 24e4f2798..f3fb61b2f 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbLibraryManager.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbLibraryManager.cc
@@ -31,12 +31,6 @@
 
 #include <memory>
 
-namespace tl
-{
-  template<> DB_PUBLIC tl::Registrar<db::Library> *tl::Registrar<db::Library>::instance = 0;
-  template class DB_PUBLIC tl::RegisteredClass<db::Library>;
-}
-
 namespace db
 {
 
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbPath.cc b/src/db/db/dbPath.cc
index 4db578db1..7b50e1ccd 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbPath.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbPath.cc
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ path<C>::area () const
 }
 
 template <class C> 
-DB_PUBLIC std::string
+std::string
 path<C>::to_string () const
 {
   std::string s = "(";
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbStream.cc b/src/db/db/dbStream.cc
index b4861e761..a6b84c9aa 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbStream.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbStream.cc
@@ -27,12 +27,6 @@
 
 #include <string.h>
 
-namespace tl
-{
-  template<> DB_PUBLIC tl::Registrar<db::StreamFormatDeclaration> *tl::Registrar<db::StreamFormatDeclaration>::instance = 0;
-  template class DB_PUBLIC tl::RegisteredClass<db::StreamFormatDeclaration>;
-}
-
 namespace db
 {
 
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbTechnology.cc b/src/db/db/dbTechnology.cc
index 50e27f7e3..bb9bac46c 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbTechnology.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbTechnology.cc
@@ -27,12 +27,6 @@
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 
-namespace tl
-{
-  template<> DB_PUBLIC tl::Registrar<db::TechnologyComponentProvider> *tl::Registrar<db::TechnologyComponentProvider>::instance = 0;
-  template class DB_PUBLIC tl::RegisteredClass<db::TechnologyComponentProvider>;
-}
-
 namespace db
 {
 
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbTypes.h b/src/db/db/dbTypes.h
index 83ff37789..11df2b7a9 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbTypes.h
+++ b/src/db/db/dbTypes.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #define HDR_dbTypes
 
 #include <stdint.h>
+#define _USE_MATH_DEFINES // for MSVC
 #include <math.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <algorithm>
diff --git a/src/db/db/dbUserObject.cc b/src/db/db/dbUserObject.cc
index 93eae07be..09297e2a0 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbUserObject.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbUserObject.cc
@@ -24,14 +24,6 @@
 #include "dbUserObject.h"
 #include "tlClassRegistry.h"
 
-namespace tl
-{
-  template<> DB_PUBLIC tl::Registrar<db::user_object_factory_base<db::Coord> > *tl::Registrar<db::user_object_factory_base<db::Coord> >::instance = 0;
-  template class DB_PUBLIC tl::RegisteredClass<db::user_object_factory_base<db::Coord> >;
-  template<> DB_PUBLIC tl::Registrar<db::user_object_factory_base<db::DCoord> > *tl::Registrar<db::user_object_factory_base<db::DCoord> >::instance = 0;
-  template class DB_PUBLIC tl::RegisteredClass<db::user_object_factory_base<db::DCoord> >;
-}
-
 namespace db
 {
   static unsigned int s_class_id = 1;
diff --git a/src/gsi/gsi/gsiEnums.h b/src/gsi/gsi/gsiEnums.h
index dcde774dc..cbddb56a3 100644
--- a/src/gsi/gsi/gsiEnums.h
+++ b/src/gsi/gsi/gsiEnums.h
@@ -195,14 +195,14 @@ public:
     return std::string ("(not a valid enum value)");
   }
 
-  static std::string enum_to_string (const E *e) 
+  static std::string enum_to_string_ext (const E *e)
   {
     const Enum<E> *ecls = dynamic_cast<const Enum<E> *> (cls_decl<E> ());
     tl_assert (ecls != 0);
     return ecls->enum_to_string (*e);
   }
 
-  static std::string enum_to_string_inspect (const E *e) 
+  static std::string enum_to_string_inspect_ext (const E *e)
   {
     const Enum<E> *ecls = dynamic_cast<const Enum<E> *> (cls_decl<E> ());
     tl_assert (ecls != 0);
@@ -246,8 +246,8 @@ public:
     gsi::Methods m = 
       gsi::constructor ("new", &new_enum_from_int, gsi::arg("i"), "@brief Creates an enum from an integer value") +
       gsi::constructor ("new", &new_enum_from_string, gsi::arg("s"), "@brief Creates an enum from a string value") +
-      gsi::method_ext ("to_s", &enum_to_string, "@brief Gets the symbolic string from an enum") +
-      gsi::method_ext ("inspect", &enum_to_string_inspect, "@brief Converts an enum to a visual string") +
+      gsi::method_ext ("to_s", &enum_to_string_ext, "@brief Gets the symbolic string from an enum") +
+      gsi::method_ext ("inspect", &enum_to_string_inspect_ext, "@brief Converts an enum to a visual string") +
       gsi::method_ext ("to_i", &enum_to_i, "@brief Gets the integer value from the enum") +
       gsi::method_ext ("==", &enum_eq, gsi::arg("other"), "@brief Compares two enums") +
       gsi::method_ext ("!=", &enum_ne, gsi::arg("other"), "@brief Compares two enums for inequality") +
diff --git a/src/gsi/gsi/gsiInterpreter.cc b/src/gsi/gsi/gsiInterpreter.cc
index ab5db9869..a750690dc 100644
--- a/src/gsi/gsi/gsiInterpreter.cc
+++ b/src/gsi/gsi/gsiInterpreter.cc
@@ -22,11 +22,6 @@
 
 #include "gsiInterpreter.h"
 
-namespace tl
-{
-  template<> GSI_PUBLIC tl::Registrar<gsi::Interpreter> *tl::Registrar<gsi::Interpreter>::instance = 0;
-}
-
 namespace gsi
 {
 
diff --git a/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQt.h b/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQt.h
index e48e94197..a7eb0b434 100644
--- a/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQt.h
+++ b/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQt.h
@@ -572,6 +572,13 @@ struct pair_decl
 //  warning:
 #define __SUPPRESS_UNUSED_WARNING(x) (void)(x)
 
+//  HACK: the Qt binding code takes __null instead of NULL, but
+//  MS defines it as empty in sal.h ... better __null was NULL again.
+#if defined(__null)
+#  undef __null
+#  define __null 0
+#endif
+
 }
   
 #endif
diff --git a/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQtGuiExternals.h b/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQtGuiExternals.h
index 2773c3da4..924bd51b4 100644
--- a/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQtGuiExternals.h
+++ b/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQtGuiExternals.h
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@
 */
 
 #if QT_VERSION >= 0x050000
+#  include "../qt5/QtGui/gsiDeclQtGuiTypeTraits.h"
 #  include "../qt5/QtGui/gsiQtExternals.h"
 #else
+#  include "../qt4/QtGui/gsiDeclQtGuiTypeTraits.h"
 #  include "../qt4/QtGui/gsiQtExternals.h"
 #endif
diff --git a/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQtWidgetsExternals.h b/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQtWidgetsExternals.h
index 5188b45a6..118040b22 100644
--- a/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQtWidgetsExternals.h
+++ b/src/gsiqt/qtbasic/gsiQtWidgetsExternals.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 */
 
 #if QT_VERSION >= 0x050000
+#  include "../qt5/QtWidgets/gsiDeclQtWidgetsTypeTraits.h"
 #  include "../qt5/QtWidgets/gsiQtExternals.h"
 #else
 //  no present in Qt4
diff --git a/src/klayout.pri b/src/klayout.pri
index 1358e3809..05b59e514 100644
--- a/src/klayout.pri
+++ b/src/klayout.pri
@@ -61,16 +61,31 @@ equals(HAVE_RUBY, "1") {
   QMAKE_RPATHDIR += $$RPATH
 }
 
-QMAKE_CXXFLAGS_WARN_ON += \
-    -pedantic \
-    -Woverloaded-virtual \
-    -Wsign-promo \
-    -Wsynth \
-    -Wno-deprecated \
-    -Wno-long-long \
-    -Wno-strict-aliasing \
-    -Wno-deprecated-declarations \
-    -Wno-reserved-user-defined-literal \
+msvc {
+
+  INCLUDEPATH += \
+    $$THIRD_PARTY/zlib/1.2.11/include \
+
+  QMAKE_CXXFLAGS += -bigobj
+
+  QMAKE_CXXFLAGS_WARN_ON += \
+
+}
+
+!msvc {
+
+  QMAKE_CXXFLAGS_WARN_ON += \
+      -pedantic \
+      -Woverloaded-virtual \
+      -Wsign-promo \
+      -Wsynth \
+      -Wno-deprecated \
+      -Wno-long-long \
+      -Wno-strict-aliasing \
+      -Wno-deprecated-declarations \
+      -Wno-reserved-user-defined-literal \
+
+}
 
 equals(HAVE_QT, "0") {
 
@@ -79,7 +94,7 @@ equals(HAVE_QT, "0") {
 } else {
 
   DEFINES += HAVE_QT
-  QT += network xml sql
+  QT += core network xml sql
 
   equals(HAVE_QT5, "1") {
     QT += designer printsupport
@@ -94,10 +109,14 @@ equals(HAVE_QT, "0") {
 }
 
 # only support the required symbols for shared object load performance
-win32 {
-  QMAKE_LFLAGS += -Wl,--exclude-all-symbols
+msvc {
+  # ...
 } else {
-  QMAKE_CXXFLAGS += -fvisibility=hidden
+  win32 {
+    QMAKE_LFLAGS += -Wl,--exclude-all-symbols
+  } else {
+    QMAKE_CXXFLAGS += -fvisibility=hidden
+  }
 }
 
 VERSION_STRING = $$KLAYOUT_VERSION
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/gsiDeclLayDialogs.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/gsiDeclLayDialogs.cc
index 95a1503cc..f64e14598 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/gsiDeclLayDialogs.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/gsiDeclLayDialogs.cc
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_QTBINDINGS)
 # include "gsiQtGuiExternals.h"
 # include "gsiQtWidgetsExternals.h"
-
 FORCE_LINK_GSI_QTGUI
 FORCE_LINK_GSI_QTWIDGETS // for Qt5
 
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/gsiDeclLayPlugin.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/gsiDeclLayPlugin.cc
index 2049ecbdb..131897874 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/gsiDeclLayPlugin.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/gsiDeclLayPlugin.cc
@@ -43,8 +43,6 @@ namespace tl
   template <> struct type_traits<gsi::PluginBase> : public type_traits<void> {
     typedef tl::false_tag has_copy_constructor;
   };
-
-  template <> Registrar<gsi::PluginFactoryBase> *Registrar<gsi::PluginFactoryBase>::instance = 0;
 }
 
 namespace gsi
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layCellView.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layCellView.cc
index 2647e3537..d8e3eb877 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layCellView.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layCellView.cc
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ LayoutHandle::layout_changed ()
 }
 
 void 
-LayoutHandle::rename (const std::string &name, bool force) throw (tl::Exception)
+LayoutHandle::rename (const std::string &name, bool force)
 {
   std::string n (name);
 
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layCellView.h b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layCellView.h
index 497c1d1c8..2f5d9e436 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layCellView.h
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layCellView.h
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public:
    *  If "force" is set to true, the layout will be given that name, irregardless if
    *  the name already is being used. If "force" is false, a new unique name is created.
    */
-  void rename (const std::string &name, bool force = false) throw (tl::Exception);
+  void rename (const std::string &name, bool force = false);
 
   /**
    *  @brief Gets the name of the handle
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layPlugin.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layPlugin.cc
index f59f597e7..7271bccef 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layPlugin.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layPlugin.cc
@@ -589,9 +589,3 @@ PluginRoot::instance ()
 }
 
 }
-
-namespace tl
-{
-  template<> LAYBASIC_PUBLIC Registrar<lay::PluginDeclaration> *tl::Registrar<lay::PluginDeclaration>::instance = 0;
-  template class LAYBASIC_PUBLIC tl::RegisteredClass<lay::PluginDeclaration>;
-}
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layTechnology.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layTechnology.cc
index 89e141731..b7a8783e7 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layTechnology.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layTechnology.cc
@@ -22,17 +22,5 @@
 
 
 #include "layTechnology.h"
-#include "layPlugin.h"
-#include "layStream.h"
-
-#include <stdio.h>
-
-#include <QFileInfo>
-#include <QDir>
-
-namespace tl
-{
-  template<> LAYBASIC_PUBLIC tl::Registrar<lay::TechnologyEditorProvider> *tl::Registrar<lay::TechnologyEditorProvider>::instance = 0;
-  template class LAYBASIC_PUBLIC tl::RegisteredClass<lay::TechnologyEditorProvider>;
-}
 
+//  .. nothing yet ..
diff --git a/src/lib_ut.pri b/src/lib_ut.pri
index c86bcc725..92abe0854 100644
--- a/src/lib_ut.pri
+++ b/src/lib_ut.pri
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ TEMPLATE = lib
 # $(DESTDIR) and $(TARGET)
 win32 {
 
-  QMAKE_POST_LINK += $(COPY) $(DESTDIR_TARGET) $$DESTDIR_UT/$${TARGET}.ut
+  QMAKE_POST_LINK += $(COPY) $(DESTDIR_TARGET) $$shell_path($$DESTDIR_UT/$${TARGET}.ut)
 
   # to avoid the major version being appended to the dll name - in this case -lxyz won't link it again
   # because the library is called xyx0.dll.
diff --git a/src/lym/lym/lymMacroInterpreter.cc b/src/lym/lym/lymMacroInterpreter.cc
index 7a120f141..5bfc494a0 100644
--- a/src/lym/lym/lymMacroInterpreter.cc
+++ b/src/lym/lym/lymMacroInterpreter.cc
@@ -122,9 +122,3 @@ MacroInterpreter::suffix (const std::string &dsl_name)
 }
 
 }
-
-namespace tl
-{
-  template<> LYM_PUBLIC tl::Registrar<lym::MacroInterpreter> *Registrar<lym::MacroInterpreter>::instance = 0;
-  template class LYM_PUBLIC tl::RegisteredClass<lym::MacroInterpreter>;
-}
diff --git a/src/rdb/rdb/rdbFile.cc b/src/rdb/rdb/rdbFile.cc
index 757685862..f0c0d9b33 100644
--- a/src/rdb/rdb/rdbFile.cc
+++ b/src/rdb/rdb/rdbFile.cc
@@ -192,11 +192,3 @@ class StandardFormatDeclaration
 static tl::RegisteredClass<rdb::FormatDeclaration> format_decl (new StandardFormatDeclaration (), 0, "KLayout-RDB");
 
 }
-
-// -------------------------------------------------------------
-
-namespace tl
-{
-  template<> RDB_PUBLIC tl::Registrar<rdb::FormatDeclaration> *tl::Registrar<rdb::FormatDeclaration>::instance = 0;
-  template class RDB_PUBLIC tl::RegisteredClass<rdb::FormatDeclaration>;
-}
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tl.pro b/src/tl/tl/tl.pro
index e13891ebd..c796f7e9a 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tl.pro
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tl.pro
@@ -6,7 +6,16 @@ include($$PWD/../../lib.pri)
 
 DEFINES += MAKE_TL_LIBRARY
 
-LIBS += -lz
+!msvc {
+  LIBS += -lz
+}
+
+msvc {
+
+  LIBS += \
+    -L$$THIRD_PARTY/zlib/1.2.11/lib -lzlib
+
+}
 
 equals(HAVE_QT, "0") {
   LIBS += -lpthread
@@ -152,6 +161,3 @@ equals(HAVE_CURL, "1") {
 
 }
 
-INCLUDEPATH =
-DEPENDPATH =
-
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlClassRegistry.cc b/src/tl/tl/tlClassRegistry.cc
index 2f49938f3..3fa5b39c9 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlClassRegistry.cc
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlClassRegistry.cc
@@ -23,3 +23,39 @@
  
 #include "tlClassRegistry.h"
 
+#include <map>
+
+namespace tl
+{
+
+struct ti_compare_f
+{
+  bool operator() (const std::type_info *a, const std::type_info *b) const
+  {
+    return a->before (*b);
+  }
+};
+
+typedef std::map<const std::type_info *, RegistrarBase *, ti_compare_f> inst_map_type;
+static inst_map_type s_inst_map;
+
+TL_PUBLIC void set_registrar_instance_by_type (const std::type_info &ti, RegistrarBase *rb)
+{
+  if (rb) {
+    s_inst_map[&ti] = rb;
+  } else {
+    s_inst_map.erase (&ti);
+  }
+}
+
+TL_PUBLIC RegistrarBase *registrar_instance_by_type (const std::type_info &ti)
+{
+  inst_map_type::const_iterator im = s_inst_map.find (&ti);
+  if (im != s_inst_map.end ()) {
+    return im->second;
+  } else {
+    return 0;
+  }
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlClassRegistry.h b/src/tl/tl/tlClassRegistry.h
index bd8401287..fa4a360a7 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlClassRegistry.h
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlClassRegistry.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "tlCommon.h"
 
 #include "tlLog.h"
+#include <typeinfo>
 
 namespace tl
 {
@@ -93,10 +94,12 @@ public:
   RegisteredClass (X *inst, int position = 0, const char *name = "", bool owned = true) 
     : m_owned (owned)
   { 
-    if (! Registrar<X>::instance) {
-      Registrar<X>::instance = new Registrar<X> ();
+    Registrar<X> *instance = Registrar<X>::get_instance ();
+    if (! instance) {
+      instance = new Registrar<X> ();
+      Registrar<X>::set_instance (instance);
     }
-    mp_node = Registrar<X>::instance->insert (inst, owned, position, name);
+    mp_node = instance->insert (inst, owned, position, name);
     
     if (tl::verbosity () >= 40) {
       tl::info << "Registered object '" << name << "' with priority " << position;
@@ -105,13 +108,18 @@ public:
 
   ~RegisteredClass ()
   {
-    //  remove the associated object
-    Registrar<X>::instance->remove (mp_node);
+    Registrar<X> *instance = Registrar<X>::get_instance ();
+    if (instance) {
+
+      //  remove the associated object
+      instance->remove (mp_node);
+
+      if (instance->begin () == instance->end ()) {
+        //  no more registered objects left - remove registrar
+        delete instance;
+        Registrar<X>::set_instance (0);
+      }
 
-    if (Registrar<X>::instance->begin () == Registrar<X>::instance->end ()) {
-      //  no more registered objects left - remove registrar
-      delete Registrar<X>::instance;
-      Registrar<X>::instance = 0;
     }
   }
 
@@ -120,6 +128,22 @@ private:
   bool m_owned; 
 };
 
+/**
+ *  @brief A base class for the registrar types
+ */
+class RegistrarBase { };
+
+/**
+ *  @brief Sets the registrar instance by type
+ */
+TL_PUBLIC void set_registrar_instance_by_type (const std::type_info &ti, RegistrarBase *rb);
+
+/**
+ *  @brief Gets the registrar instance by type
+ *  Returns 0 if no registrar instance is set by this type;
+ */
+TL_PUBLIC RegistrarBase *registrar_instance_by_type (const std::type_info &ti);
+
 /**
  *  @brief The registrar capable of registering objects of type Y derived from X
  *
@@ -131,6 +155,7 @@ private:
  */
 template <class X>
 class Registrar
+    : public RegistrarBase
 {
 public:
   class iterator
@@ -220,15 +245,18 @@ public:
 
   static Registrar<X> *get_instance () 
   {
-    return instance;
+    return static_cast<Registrar<X> *> (registrar_instance_by_type (typeid (X)));
+  }
+
+  static void set_instance (Registrar<X> *instance)
+  {
+    set_registrar_instance_by_type (typeid (X), instance);
   }
 
 private:
   friend class iterator;
   template <class Y> friend class RegisteredClass;
 
-  static Registrar<X> *instance;
-
   RegistrarNode<X> *insert (X *cls, bool owned, int position, const std::string &name)
   {
     RegistrarNode<X> **link = &mp_first;
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlCommandLineParser.cc b/src/tl/tl/tlCommandLineParser.cc
index ab6d4992d..c30eb5657 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlCommandLineParser.cc
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlCommandLineParser.cc
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "tlLog.h"
 #include "tlCommandLineParser.h"
 #include "tlFileUtils.h"
+#include "tlString.h"
 
 namespace tl
 {
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlEvents.cc b/src/tl/tl/tlEvents.cc
index a6e5a053d..a282a483d 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlEvents.cc
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlEvents.cc
@@ -28,14 +28,14 @@
 namespace tl
 {
 
-TL_PUBLIC void handle_event_exception (tl::Exception &ex)
+void handle_event_exception (tl::Exception &ex)
 {
   //  Exceptions have unpredicable side effects for events so we just log
   //  them here.
   tl::warn << ex.msg ();
 }
 
-TL_PUBLIC void handle_event_exception (std::exception &ex)
+void handle_event_exception (std::exception &ex)
 {
   //  Exceptions have unpredicable side effects for events so we just log
   //  them here.
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlEvents.h b/src/tl/tl/tlEvents.h
index 12fa2e8bb..8a1c9a00e 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlEvents.h
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlEvents.h
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ namespace tl
 /**
  *  @brief A helper function to handle event exceptions of tl::Exception type
  */
-void handle_event_exception (tl::Exception &ex);
+TL_PUBLIC void handle_event_exception (tl::Exception &ex);
 
 /**
  *  @brief A helper function to handle event exceptions of std::exception type
  */
-void handle_event_exception (std::exception &ex);
+TL_PUBLIC void handle_event_exception (std::exception &ex);
 
 /**
  *  @brief A framework of observer and observables
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlExpression.cc b/src/tl/tl/tlExpression.cc
index 217949315..65a8590df 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlExpression.cc
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlExpression.cc
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include <vector>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <iostream>
+#define _USE_MATH_DEFINES // for MSVC
 #include <math.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlFileUtils.cc b/src/tl/tl/tlFileUtils.cc
index 39bcd7125..f9fc0e20b 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlFileUtils.cc
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlFileUtils.cc
@@ -27,19 +27,36 @@
 
 #include <cctype>
 
-#include <sys/stat.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
-#include <dirent.h>
+#if defined(_MSC_VER)
 
-#if defined(_WIN32)
+#  include <sys/types.h>
+#  include <sys/stat.h>
+#  include <io.h>
+#  include <Windows.h>
+
+#elif defined(_WIN32)
+
+#  include <sys/stat.h>
+#  include <unistd.h>
+#  include <dirent.h>
 #  include <dir.h>
-#  include <windows.h>
-#elif defined(__APPLE__)
-#  include <libproc.h>
-#endif
+#  include <Windows.h>
 
-#if !defined(_WIN32)
+#elif defined(__APPLE__)
+
+#  include <sys/stat.h>
+#  include <unistd.h>
+#  include <dirent.h>
+#  include <libproc.h>
 #  include <dlfcn.h>
+
+#else
+
+#  include <sys/stat.h>
+#  include <unistd.h>
+#  include <dirent.h>
+#  include <dlfcn.h>
+
 #endif
 
 namespace tl
@@ -664,13 +681,21 @@ bool file_exists (const std::string &p)
 bool is_writable (const std::string &p)
 {
   stat_struct st;
+#if defined(_MSC_VER)
+  return stat_func (p, st) == 0 && (st.st_mode & _S_IWRITE) != 0;
+#else
   return stat_func (p, st) == 0 && (st.st_mode & S_IWUSR) != 0;
+#endif
 }
 
 bool is_readable (const std::string &p)
 {
   stat_struct st;
+#if defined(_MSC_VER)
+  return stat_func (p, st) == 0 && (st.st_mode & _S_IREAD) != 0;
+#else
   return stat_func (p, st) == 0 && (st.st_mode & S_IRUSR) != 0;
+#endif
 }
 
 bool is_dir (const std::string &p)
@@ -679,7 +704,11 @@ bool is_dir (const std::string &p)
   if (stat_func (p, st) != 0) {
     return false;
   } else {
+#if defined(_MSC_VER)
+    return !(st.st_mode & _S_IFREG);
+#else
     return !S_ISREG (st.st_mode);
+#endif
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlLog.cc b/src/tl/tl/tlLog.cc
index 1c8cace45..4c954df15 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlLog.cc
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlLog.cc
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@
 #include "tlString.h"
 
 #include <stdio.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
+#if !defined(_MSC_VER)
+#  include <unistd.h>
+#endif
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 #if defined(_WIN32)
@@ -250,7 +252,11 @@ ChannelProxy::ChannelProxy (const ChannelProxy &d)
 static bool
 can_colorize (FILE *stream)
 {
+#if defined(_MSC_VER)
+  return false;
+#else
   return isatty (fileno (stream));
+#endif
 }
 
 #define ANSI_RED "\033[31;1m"
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlString.cc b/src/tl/tl/tlString.cc
index ec17ef659..245e8f94a 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlString.cc
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlString.cc
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ from_string (const std::string &s, const unsigned char * &result)
 }
 
 void 
-from_string (const std::string &s, double &v) throw (tl::Exception)
+from_string (const std::string &s, double &v)
 {
   const char *cp = s.c_str ();
   while (*cp && isspace (*cp)) {
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ from_string (const std::string &s, double &v) throw (tl::Exception)
 
 template <class T>
 void 
-convert_string_to_int (const std::string &s, T &v) throw (tl::Exception)
+convert_string_to_int (const std::string &s, T &v)
 {
   double x;
   // HACK: this should be some real string-to-int conversion
@@ -761,43 +761,43 @@ convert_string_to_int (const std::string &s, T &v) throw (tl::Exception)
 }
 
 void 
-from_string (const std::string &s, int &v) throw (tl::Exception)
+from_string (const std::string &s, int &v)
 {
   convert_string_to_int (s, v);
 }
 
 void 
-from_string (const std::string &s, long &v) throw (tl::Exception)
+from_string (const std::string &s, long &v)
 {
   convert_string_to_int (s, v);
 }
 
 void 
-from_string (const std::string &s, long long &v) throw (tl::Exception)
+from_string (const std::string &s, long long &v)
 {
   convert_string_to_int (s, v);
 }
 
 void 
-from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned int &v) throw (tl::Exception)
+from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned int &v)
 {
   convert_string_to_int (s, v);
 }
 
 void 
-from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned long &v) throw (tl::Exception)
+from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned long &v)
 {
   convert_string_to_int (s, v);
 }
 
 void 
-from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned long long &v) throw (tl::Exception)
+from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned long long &v)
 {
   convert_string_to_int (s, v);
 }
 
 void
-from_string (const std::string &s, bool &b) throw (tl::Exception)
+from_string (const std::string &s, bool &b)
 {
   std::string t (tl::trim (s));
   if (t == "true") {
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlString.h b/src/tl/tl/tlString.h
index e4a2ecb53..c96a7096a 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlString.h
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlString.h
@@ -757,14 +757,14 @@ private:
 
 TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, const char * &result);
 TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, const unsigned char * &result);
-TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, double &v) throw (tl::Exception);
-TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, int &v) throw (tl::Exception);
-TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, long &v) throw (tl::Exception);
-TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, long long &v) throw (tl::Exception);
-TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned int &v) throw (tl::Exception);
-TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned long &v) throw (tl::Exception);
-TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned long long &v) throw (tl::Exception);
-TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, bool &b) throw (tl::Exception);
+TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, double &v);
+TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, int &v);
+TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, long &v);
+TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, long long &v);
+TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned int &v);
+TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned long &v);
+TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, unsigned long long &v);
+TL_PUBLIC void from_string (const std::string &s, bool &b);
 
 inline void from_string (const std::string &s, std::string &v) { v = s; }
 
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlThreads.h b/src/tl/tl/tlThreads.h
index f8d88263e..41f92be41 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlThreads.h
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlThreads.h
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ private:
 #if defined(HAVE_QT)
 
 template <class T>
-class TL_PUBLIC ThreadStorage
+class ThreadStorage
   : public QThreadStorage<T>
 {
 public:
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlTimer.cc b/src/tl/tl/tlTimer.cc
index 197fbd19a..a65379ea4 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlTimer.cc
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlTimer.cc
@@ -32,46 +32,52 @@
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 
-#ifndef _MSC_VER // not available on MS VC++
+#if !defined(_MSC_VER) // not available on MS VC++
 #  include <unistd.h>
 #endif
 
+#if defined(_MSC_VER)
+#  include <Windows.h>
+#endif
+
 #if defined(__MACH__)
-#include <mach/clock.h>
-#include <mach/mach.h>
+#  include <mach/clock.h>
+#  include <mach/mach.h>
 #endif
 
 namespace tl
 {
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------
+//  Gets the current time in ms from epoch
 
-void current_utc_time (struct timespec *ts)
+static int64_t ms_time ()
 {
-
 #if defined(__MACH__)
+
   clock_serv_t cclock;
   mach_timespec_t mts;
   host_get_clock_service(mach_host_self(), CALENDAR_CLOCK, &cclock);
   clock_get_time(cclock, &mts);
   mach_port_deallocate(mach_task_self(), cclock);
-  ts->tv_sec = mts.tv_sec;
-  ts->tv_nsec = mts.tv_nsec;
+
+  return int64_t (mts.tv_sec) * 1000 + int64_t (0.5 + mts.tv_nsec / 1.0e6);
+
+#elif defined(_MSC_VER)
+
+  FILETIME ft;
+  GetSystemTimeAsFileTime (&ft);
+  //  device by 8192 -> should fit into a 64bit type
+  uint64_t t = (uint64_t (ft.dwHighDateTime) << (64 - 13)) | (uint64_t (ft.dwLowDateTime) >> 13);
+  return int64_t (0.5 + t / 0.8192);
+
 #else
+
+  timespec ts;
   clock_gettime(CLOCK_REALTIME, ts);
+  return int64_t (ts.tv_sec) * 1000 + int64_t (0.5 + ts.tv_nsec / 1.0e6);
+
 #endif
-
-}
-
-// -------------------------------------------------------------
-//  Gets the current time in ms from epoch
-
-static int64_t ms_time ()
-{
-  struct timespec spec;
-  current_utc_time (&spec);
-
-  return int64_t (spec.tv_sec) * 1000 + int64_t (0.5 + spec.tv_nsec / 1.0e6);
 }
 
 // -------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -100,9 +106,6 @@ Timer::start ()
   m_sys_ms += (timer_t) ((clks.tms_stime + clks.tms_cstime) * clk2msec + 0.5);
 #endif
 
-  struct timespec spec;
-  current_utc_time (&spec);
-
   m_wall_ms += ms_time ();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/tl/tl/tlUnitTest.h b/src/tl/tl/tlUnitTest.h
index a596f4f3a..9f1860bc7 100644
--- a/src/tl/tl/tlUnitTest.h
+++ b/src/tl/tl/tlUnitTest.h
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ protected:
   }
 
 private:
-  virtual void execute (tl::TestBase *_this) throw (tl::Exception) = 0;
+  virtual void execute (tl::TestBase *_this) = 0;
 
   void write_detailed_diff (std::ostream &os, const std::string &subject, const std::string &ref);
 
@@ -496,11 +496,11 @@ struct TestImpl##NAME \
       : public tl::TestBase \
     { \
       TestImpl##NAME () : TestBase (__FILE__, #NAME) { } \
-      virtual void execute (tl::TestBase *_this) throw (tl::Exception); \
+      virtual void execute (tl::TestBase *_this); \
     }; \
     static TestImpl##NAME TestImpl_Inst##NAME; \
   } \
-  void TestImpl##NAME::execute (tl::TestBase *_this) throw (tl::Exception)
+  void TestImpl##NAME::execute (tl::TestBase *_this)
 
 #define EXPECT_EQ(WHAT,EQUALS) \
   _this->checkpoint (__FILE__, __LINE__); \
diff --git a/src/tl/unit_tests/tlClassRegistry.cc b/src/tl/unit_tests/tlClassRegistry.cc
index e6f581f87..4ee757488 100644
--- a/src/tl/unit_tests/tlClassRegistry.cc
+++ b/src/tl/unit_tests/tlClassRegistry.cc
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 
 */
 
- 
 #include "tlClassRegistry.h"
 #include "tlUnitTest.h"
 
@@ -39,13 +38,13 @@ public:
 class Y : public X
 {
 public:
-  virtual const char *name () const { return "Y"; };
+  virtual const char *name () const { return "Y"; }
 };
 
 class Z : public X
 {
 public:
-  virtual const char *name () const { return "Z"; };
+  virtual const char *name () const { return "Z"; }
 };
 
 
@@ -59,12 +58,12 @@ public:
 
 class B : public A
 {
-  virtual const char *name () const { return "B"; };
+  virtual const char *name () const { return "B"; }
 };
 
 class C : public A
 {
-  virtual const char *name () const { return "C"; };
+  virtual const char *name () const { return "C"; }
 };
 
 
@@ -112,10 +111,3 @@ TEST(3)
 }
 
 }
-
-namespace tl
-{
-  template <> tl::Registrar<class_registry_test::X> *Registrar<class_registry_test::X>::instance = 0;
-  template <> tl::Registrar<class_registry_test::A> *Registrar<class_registry_test::A>::instance = 0;
-}
-
diff --git a/src/tl/unit_tests/tlExpression.cc b/src/tl/unit_tests/tlExpression.cc
index 178fee5f5..7c539cb9c 100644
--- a/src/tl/unit_tests/tlExpression.cc
+++ b/src/tl/unit_tests/tlExpression.cc
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "tlUnitTest.h"
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#define _USE_MATH_DEFINES // for MSVC
 #include <math.h>
 
 // basics
diff --git a/src/tl/unit_tests/tlString.cc b/src/tl/unit_tests/tlString.cc
index 13e2f064b..b8911b9f4 100644
--- a/src/tl/unit_tests/tlString.cc
+++ b/src/tl/unit_tests/tlString.cc
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
 #include "tlTimer.h"
 #include "tlUnitTest.h"
 
-#include <cmath>
+#define _USE_MATH_DEFINES // for MSVC
+#include <math.h>
 #include <clocale>
 
 using namespace tl;
diff --git a/src/tl/unit_tests/tlThreads.cc b/src/tl/unit_tests/tlThreads.cc
index 82301eeeb..632f0824b 100644
--- a/src/tl/unit_tests/tlThreads.cc
+++ b/src/tl/unit_tests/tlThreads.cc
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #if defined(WIN32)
-#include <windows.h>
+#include <Windows.h>
 inline void usleep(long us)
 {
   Sleep(us / 1000);