diff --git a/Zend/zend_extensions.c b/Zend/zend_extensions.c
index ceda2a3e8db..e556eb07bcd 100644
--- a/Zend/zend_extensions.c
+++ b/Zend/zend_extensions.c
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ int zend_load_extension(const char *path)
 {
 #if ZEND_EXTENSIONS_SUPPORT
 	DL_HANDLE handle;
-	zend_extension *new_extension;
-	zend_extension_version_info *extension_version_info;
 
 	handle = DL_LOAD(path);
 	if (!handle) {
@@ -43,6 +41,22 @@ int zend_load_extension(const char *path)
 #endif
 		return FAILURE;
 	}
+	return zend_load_extension_handle(handle, path);
+#else
+	fprintf(stderr, "Extensions are not supported on this platform.\n");
+/* See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/190351 */
+#ifdef ZEND_WIN32
+	fflush(stderr);
+#endif
+	return FAILURE;
+#endif
+}
+
+int zend_load_extension_handle(DL_HANDLE handle, const char *path)
+{
+#if ZEND_EXTENSIONS_SUPPORT
+	zend_extension *new_extension;
+	zend_extension_version_info *extension_version_info;
 
 	extension_version_info = (zend_extension_version_info *) DL_FETCH_SYMBOL(handle, "extension_version_info");
 	if (!extension_version_info) {
@@ -62,7 +76,6 @@ int zend_load_extension(const char *path)
 		return FAILURE;
 	}
 
-
 	/* allow extension to proclaim compatibility with any Zend version */
 	if (extension_version_info->zend_extension_api_no != ZEND_EXTENSION_API_NO &&(!new_extension->api_no_check || new_extension->api_no_check(ZEND_EXTENSION_API_NO) != SUCCESS)) {
 		if (extension_version_info->zend_extension_api_no > ZEND_EXTENSION_API_NO) {
diff --git a/Zend/zend_extensions.h b/Zend/zend_extensions.h
index caeb3a263b4..ee9912c73f4 100644
--- a/Zend/zend_extensions.h
+++ b/Zend/zend_extensions.h
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ void zend_shutdown_extensions(void);
 
 BEGIN_EXTERN_C()
 ZEND_API int zend_load_extension(const char *path);
+ZEND_API int zend_load_extension_handle(DL_HANDLE handle, const char *path);
 ZEND_API int zend_register_extension(zend_extension *new_extension, DL_HANDLE handle);
 ZEND_API zend_extension *zend_get_extension(const char *extension_name);
 ZEND_API size_t zend_extensions_op_array_persist_calc(zend_op_array *op_array);
diff --git a/ext/standard/dl.c b/ext/standard/dl.c
index 5adae805ce6..d32f02e8e64 100644
--- a/ext/standard/dl.c
+++ b/ext/standard/dl.c
@@ -76,6 +76,32 @@ PHPAPI PHP_FUNCTION(dl)
 
 #if defined(HAVE_LIBDL)
 
+/* {{{ php_load_shlib
+ */
+PHPAPI void *php_load_shlib(char *path, char **errp)
+{
+	void *handle;
+	char *err;
+
+	handle = DL_LOAD(path);
+	if (!handle) {
+		err = GET_DL_ERROR();
+#ifdef PHP_WIN32
+		if (err && (*err)) {
+			(*errp)=estrdup(err);
+			LocalFree(err);
+		} else {
+			(*errp) = estrdup("<No message>");
+		}
+#else
+		(*errp) = estrdup(err);
+		GET_DL_ERROR(); /* free the buffer storing the error */
+#endif
+	}
+	return handle;
+}
+/* }}} */
+
 /* {{{ php_load_extension
  */
 PHPAPI int php_load_extension(char *filename, int type, int start_now)
@@ -109,6 +135,7 @@ PHPAPI int php_load_extension(char *filename, int type, int start_now)
 		libpath = estrdup(filename);
 	} else if (extension_dir && extension_dir[0]) {
 		int extension_dir_len = (int)strlen(extension_dir);
+		char *err1, *err2;
 		slash_suffix = IS_SLASH(extension_dir[extension_dir_len-1]);
 		/* Try as filename first */
 		if (slash_suffix) {
@@ -117,8 +144,9 @@ PHPAPI int php_load_extension(char *filename, int type, int start_now)
 			spprintf(&libpath, 0, "%s%c%s", extension_dir, DEFAULT_SLASH, filename); /* SAFE */
 		}
 
-		if (VCWD_ACCESS(libpath, F_OK)) {
-			/* If file does not exist, consider as extension name and build file name */
+		handle = php_load_shlib(libpath, &err1);
+		if (!handle) {
+			/* Now, consider 'filename' as extension name and build file name */
 			char *orig_libpath = libpath;
 
 			if (slash_suffix) {
@@ -127,37 +155,23 @@ PHPAPI int php_load_extension(char *filename, int type, int start_now)
 				spprintf(&libpath, 0, "%s%c" PHP_SHLIB_EXT_PREFIX "%s." PHP_SHLIB_SUFFIX, extension_dir, DEFAULT_SLASH, filename); /* SAFE */
 			}
 
-			if (VCWD_ACCESS(libpath, F_OK)) {
-				php_error(error_type, "Cannot access dynamic library '%s' (tried : %s, %s)",
-					filename, orig_libpath, libpath);
+			handle = php_load_shlib(libpath, &err2);
+			if (!handle) {
+				php_error_docref(NULL, error_type, "Unable to load dynamic library '%s' (tried: %s (%s), %s (%s))",
+					filename, orig_libpath, err1, libpath, err2);
 				efree(orig_libpath);
+				efree(err1);
 				efree(libpath);
+				efree(err2);
 				return FAILURE;
 			}
 			efree(orig_libpath);
+			efree(err1);
 		}
 	} else {
 		return FAILURE; /* Not full path given or extension_dir is not set */
 	}
 
-	/* load dynamic symbol */
-	handle = DL_LOAD(libpath);
-	if (!handle) {
-#ifdef PHP_WIN32
-		char *err = GET_DL_ERROR();
-		if (err && (*err != '\0')) {
-			php_error_docref(NULL, error_type, "Unable to load dynamic library '%s' - %s", libpath, err);
-			LocalFree(err);
-		} else {
-			php_error_docref(NULL, error_type, "Unable to load dynamic library '%s' - %s", libpath, "Unknown reason");
-		}
-#else
-		php_error_docref(NULL, error_type, "Unable to load dynamic library '%s' - %s", libpath, GET_DL_ERROR());
-		GET_DL_ERROR(); /* free the buffer storing the error */
-#endif
-		efree(libpath);
-		return FAILURE;
-	}
 	efree(libpath);
 
 	get_module = (zend_module_entry *(*)(void)) DL_FETCH_SYMBOL(handle, "get_module");
diff --git a/ext/standard/dl.h b/ext/standard/dl.h
index 642fb81fc42..d2e32e4e459 100644
--- a/ext/standard/dl.h
+++ b/ext/standard/dl.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 PHPAPI int php_load_extension(char *filename, int type, int start_now);
 PHPAPI void php_dl(char *file, int type, zval *return_value, int start_now);
+PHPAPI void *php_load_shlib(char *path, char **errp);
 
 /* dynamic loading functions */
 PHPAPI PHP_FUNCTION(dl);
diff --git a/main/php_ini.c b/main/php_ini.c
index 98896a5f866..4e013c8acab 100644
--- a/main/php_ini.c
+++ b/main/php_ini.c
@@ -362,10 +362,12 @@ static void php_load_zend_extension_cb(void *arg)
 	if (IS_ABSOLUTE_PATH(filename, length)) {
 		zend_load_extension(filename);
 	} else {
+		DL_HANDLE handle;
 		char *libpath;
 		char *extension_dir = INI_STR("extension_dir");
 		int extension_dir_len = (int)strlen(extension_dir);
 		int slash_suffix = IS_SLASH(extension_dir[extension_dir_len-1]);
+		char *err1, *err2;
 		/* Try as filename first */
 		if (slash_suffix) {
 			spprintf(&libpath, 0, "%s%s", extension_dir, filename); /* SAFE */
@@ -373,7 +375,8 @@ static void php_load_zend_extension_cb(void *arg)
 			spprintf(&libpath, 0, "%s%c%s", extension_dir, DEFAULT_SLASH, filename); /* SAFE */
 		}
 
-		if (VCWD_ACCESS(libpath, F_OK)) {
+		handle = (DL_HANDLE)php_load_shlib(libpath, &err1);
+		if (!handle) {
 			/* If file does not exist, consider as extension name and build file name */
 			char *orig_libpath = libpath;
 
@@ -383,18 +386,22 @@ static void php_load_zend_extension_cb(void *arg)
 				spprintf(&libpath, 0, "%s%c" PHP_SHLIB_EXT_PREFIX "%s." PHP_SHLIB_SUFFIX, extension_dir, DEFAULT_SLASH, filename); /* SAFE */
 			}
 
-			if (VCWD_ACCESS(libpath, F_OK)) {
-				php_error(E_CORE_WARNING, "Cannot access Zend extension %s (Tried: %s, %s)\n",
-					filename, orig_libpath, libpath);
+			handle = (DL_HANDLE)php_load_shlib(libpath, &err2);
+			if (!handle) {
+				php_error(E_CORE_WARNING, "Failed loading Zend extension '%s' (tried: %s (%s), %s (%s))",
+					filename, orig_libpath, err1, libpath, err2);
 				efree(orig_libpath);
+				efree(err1);
 				efree(libpath);
+				efree(err2);
 				return;
 			}
 
 			efree(orig_libpath);
+			efree(err1);
 		}
 
-		zend_load_extension(libpath);
+		zend_load_extension_handle(handle, libpath);
 		efree(libpath);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/win32/build/Makefile b/win32/build/Makefile
index aa8f78302e3..da484af3938 100644
--- a/win32/build/Makefile
+++ b/win32/build/Makefile
@@ -210,9 +210,6 @@ snap: build-snap build-devel build-dist
 $(BUILD_DIR)\deplister.exe:	win32\build\deplister.c
 	$(CC) /Fo$(BUILD_DIR)\ /Fd$(BUILD_DIR)\ /Fp$(BUILD_DIR)\ /FR$(BUILD_DIR) /Fe$(BUILD_DIR)\deplister.exe win32\build\deplister.c imagehlp.lib
 
-msi-installer: dist
-	$(BUILD_DIR)\php.exe ..\php-installer\build-installer.php "$(BUILD_DIR)" "$(PHPDLL)" "$(SAPI_TARGETS)" "$(EXT_TARGETS)" "$(PECL_TARGETS)"
-
 # need to redirect, since INSTALL is a file in the root...
 install: really-install install-sdk
 
diff --git a/win32/build/confutils.js b/win32/build/confutils.js
index e47aa0d5c6c..32faad028ed 100644
--- a/win32/build/confutils.js
+++ b/win32/build/confutils.js
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ var PHP_TEST_INI_EXT_EXCLUDE = "";
 
 var PHP_MAKEFILE_FRAGMENTS = PHP_SRC_DIR + "\\Makefile.fragments.w32";
 
-/* Care also about NTDDI_VERSION and _WIN32_WINNT in config.w32.h.in */
+/* Care also about NTDDI_VERSION and _WIN32_WINNT in config.w32.h.in 
+   and manifest. */
 var WINVER = "0x0601"; /* 7/2008r2 */
 
 // There's a minimum requirement for re2c..
@@ -67,12 +68,14 @@ VC_VERSIONS[1700] = 'MSVC11 (Visual C++ 2012)';
 VC_VERSIONS[1800] = 'MSVC12 (Visual C++ 2013)';
 VC_VERSIONS[1900] = 'MSVC14 (Visual C++ 2015)';
 VC_VERSIONS[1910] = 'MSVC15 (Visual C++ 2017)';
+VC_VERSIONS[1911] = 'MSVC15 (Visual C++ 2017)';
 
 var VC_VERSIONS_SHORT = new Array();
 VC_VERSIONS_SHORT[1700] = 'VC11';
 VC_VERSIONS_SHORT[1800] = 'VC12';
 VC_VERSIONS_SHORT[1900] = 'VC14';
 VC_VERSIONS_SHORT[1910] = 'VC15';
+VC_VERSIONS_SHORT[1911] = 'VC15';
 
 if (PROGRAM_FILES == null) {
 	PROGRAM_FILES = "C:\\Program Files";
@@ -1228,9 +1231,6 @@ function SAPI(sapiname, file_list, makefiletarget, cflags, obj_dir)
 		}
 
 		ldflags += " /PGD:$(PGOPGD_DIR)\\" + makefiletarget.substring(0, makefiletarget.indexOf(".")) + ".pgd";
-	} else if (PHP_DEBUG != "yes") {
-		ADD_FLAG('CFLAGS_' + SAPI, "/GL");
-		ADD_FLAG('LDFLAGS_' + SAPI, "/LTCG:INCREMENTAL");
 	}
 
 	if (MODE_PHPIZE) {
@@ -1431,9 +1431,6 @@ function EXTENSION(extname, file_list, shared, cflags, dllname, obj_dir)
 			ADD_FLAG('CFLAGS_' + EXT, "/GL /O2");
 
 			ldflags = " /PGD:$(PGOPGD_DIR)\\" + dllname.substring(0, dllname.indexOf(".")) + ".pgd";
-		} else if (PHP_DEBUG != "yes") {
-			ADD_FLAG('CFLAGS_' + EXT, "/GL");
-			ADD_FLAG('LDFLAGS_' + EXT, "/LTCG:INCREMENTAL");
 		}
 
 		MFO.WriteLine("$(BUILD_DIR)\\" + libname + ": $(BUILD_DIR)\\" + dllname);
@@ -1476,9 +1473,6 @@ function EXTENSION(extname, file_list, shared, cflags, dllname, obj_dir)
 				ADD_FLAG("STATIC_EXT_CFLAGS", "/GL /O2");
 				static_pgo_enabled = true;
 			}
-		} else if (PHP_DEBUG != "yes") {
-			ADD_FLAG("STATIC_EXT_CFLAGS", "/GL");
-			ADD_FLAG('STATIC_EXT_LDFLAGS', "/LTCG:INCREMENTAL");
 		}
 
 		/* find the header that declares the module pointer,