diff --git a/PC/pyconfig.h b/PC/pyconfig.h
index 42ce5da5a09..aa4f170084b 100644
--- a/PC/pyconfig.h
+++ b/PC/pyconfig.h
@@ -295,9 +295,6 @@ Py_NO_ENABLE_SHARED to find out.  Also support MS_NO_COREDLL for b/w compat */
    tzname.  */
 #define HAVE_TZNAME
 
-/* Define if on MINIX.  */
-/* #undef _MINIX */
-
 /* Define to `int' if <sys/types.h> doesn't define.  */
 /* #undef mode_t */
 
diff --git a/RISCOS/pyconfig.h b/RISCOS/pyconfig.h
index 028ed62e31d..c00def2cdf6 100644
--- a/RISCOS/pyconfig.h
+++ b/RISCOS/pyconfig.h
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@
    tzname.  */
 #undef HAVE_TZNAME
 
-/* Define if on MINIX.  */
-#undef _MINIX
-
 /* Define to `int' if <sys/types.h> doesn't define.  */
 #undef mode_t
 
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 43abaf07eed..dd778fe53fb 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #! /bin/sh
-# From configure.in Revision: 1.441 .
+# From configure.in Revision: 1.442 .
 # Guess values for system-dependent variables and create Makefiles.
 # Generated by GNU Autoconf 2.57 for python 2.4.
 #
@@ -3007,383 +3007,6 @@ fi
 rm -f conftest*
 
 
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for ANSI C header files" >&5
-echo $ECHO_N "checking for ANSI C header files... $ECHO_C" >&6
-if test "${ac_cv_header_stdc+set}" = set; then
-  echo $ECHO_N "(cached) $ECHO_C" >&6
-else
-  cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <stdarg.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <float.h>
-
-int
-main ()
-{
-
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } &&
-         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  ac_cv_header_stdc=yes
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-ac_cv_header_stdc=no
-fi
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-
-if test $ac_cv_header_stdc = yes; then
-  # SunOS 4.x string.h does not declare mem*, contrary to ANSI.
-  cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-#include <string.h>
-
-_ACEOF
-if (eval "$ac_cpp conftest.$ac_ext") 2>&5 |
-  $EGREP "memchr" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-  :
-else
-  ac_cv_header_stdc=no
-fi
-rm -f conftest*
-
-fi
-
-if test $ac_cv_header_stdc = yes; then
-  # ISC 2.0.2 stdlib.h does not declare free, contrary to ANSI.
-  cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-#include <stdlib.h>
-
-_ACEOF
-if (eval "$ac_cpp conftest.$ac_ext") 2>&5 |
-  $EGREP "free" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-  :
-else
-  ac_cv_header_stdc=no
-fi
-rm -f conftest*
-
-fi
-
-if test $ac_cv_header_stdc = yes; then
-  # /bin/cc in Irix-4.0.5 gets non-ANSI ctype macros unless using -ansi.
-  if test "$cross_compiling" = yes; then
-  :
-else
-  cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-#include <ctype.h>
-#if ((' ' & 0x0FF) == 0x020)
-# define ISLOWER(c) ('a' <= (c) && (c) <= 'z')
-# define TOUPPER(c) (ISLOWER(c) ? 'A' + ((c) - 'a') : (c))
-#else
-# define ISLOWER(c) \
-                   (('a' <= (c) && (c) <= 'i') \
-                     || ('j' <= (c) && (c) <= 'r') \
-                     || ('s' <= (c) && (c) <= 'z'))
-# define TOUPPER(c) (ISLOWER(c) ? ((c) | 0x40) : (c))
-#endif
-
-#define XOR(e, f) (((e) && !(f)) || (!(e) && (f)))
-int
-main ()
-{
-  int i;
-  for (i = 0; i < 256; i++)
-    if (XOR (islower (i), ISLOWER (i))
-        || toupper (i) != TOUPPER (i))
-      exit(2);
-  exit (0);
-}
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest$ac_exeext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_link\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_link) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } && { ac_try='./conftest$ac_exeext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  :
-else
-  echo "$as_me: program exited with status $ac_status" >&5
-echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-( exit $ac_status )
-ac_cv_header_stdc=no
-fi
-rm -f core core.* *.core gmon.out bb.out conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-fi
-fi
-fi
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $ac_cv_header_stdc" >&5
-echo "${ECHO_T}$ac_cv_header_stdc" >&6
-if test $ac_cv_header_stdc = yes; then
-
-cat >>confdefs.h <<\_ACEOF
-#define STDC_HEADERS 1
-_ACEOF
-
-fi
-
-# On IRIX 5.3, sys/types and inttypes.h are conflicting.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-for ac_header in sys/types.h sys/stat.h stdlib.h string.h memory.h strings.h \
-                  inttypes.h stdint.h unistd.h
-do
-as_ac_Header=`echo "ac_cv_header_$ac_header" | $as_tr_sh`
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for $ac_header" >&5
-echo $ECHO_N "checking for $ac_header... $ECHO_C" >&6
-if eval "test \"\${$as_ac_Header+set}\" = set"; then
-  echo $ECHO_N "(cached) $ECHO_C" >&6
-else
-  cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-$ac_includes_default
-
-#include <$ac_header>
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } &&
-         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  eval "$as_ac_Header=yes"
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-eval "$as_ac_Header=no"
-fi
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-fi
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: `eval echo '${'$as_ac_Header'}'`" >&5
-echo "${ECHO_T}`eval echo '${'$as_ac_Header'}'`" >&6
-if test `eval echo '${'$as_ac_Header'}'` = yes; then
-  cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
-#define `echo "HAVE_$ac_header" | $as_tr_cpp` 1
-_ACEOF
-
-fi
-
-done
-
-
-if test "${ac_cv_header_minix_config_h+set}" = set; then
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for minix/config.h" >&5
-echo $ECHO_N "checking for minix/config.h... $ECHO_C" >&6
-if test "${ac_cv_header_minix_config_h+set}" = set; then
-  echo $ECHO_N "(cached) $ECHO_C" >&6
-fi
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $ac_cv_header_minix_config_h" >&5
-echo "${ECHO_T}$ac_cv_header_minix_config_h" >&6
-else
-  # Is the header compilable?
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking minix/config.h usability" >&5
-echo $ECHO_N "checking minix/config.h usability... $ECHO_C" >&6
-cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-$ac_includes_default
-#include <minix/config.h>
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } &&
-         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  ac_header_compiler=yes
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-ac_header_compiler=no
-fi
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $ac_header_compiler" >&5
-echo "${ECHO_T}$ac_header_compiler" >&6
-
-# Is the header present?
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking minix/config.h presence" >&5
-echo $ECHO_N "checking minix/config.h presence... $ECHO_C" >&6
-cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-#include <minix/config.h>
-_ACEOF
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_cpp conftest.$ac_ext\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_cpp conftest.$ac_ext) 2>conftest.er1
-  ac_status=$?
-  grep -v '^ *+' conftest.er1 >conftest.err
-  rm -f conftest.er1
-  cat conftest.err >&5
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } >/dev/null; then
-  if test -s conftest.err; then
-    ac_cpp_err=$ac_c_preproc_warn_flag
-  else
-    ac_cpp_err=
-  fi
-else
-  ac_cpp_err=yes
-fi
-if test -z "$ac_cpp_err"; then
-  ac_header_preproc=yes
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-  ac_header_preproc=no
-fi
-rm -f conftest.err conftest.$ac_ext
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $ac_header_preproc" >&5
-echo "${ECHO_T}$ac_header_preproc" >&6
-
-# So?  What about this header?
-case $ac_header_compiler:$ac_header_preproc in
-  yes:no )
-    { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: WARNING: minix/config.h: accepted by the compiler, rejected by the preprocessor!" >&5
-echo "$as_me: WARNING: minix/config.h: accepted by the compiler, rejected by the preprocessor!" >&2;}
-    { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: WARNING: minix/config.h: proceeding with the preprocessor's result" >&5
-echo "$as_me: WARNING: minix/config.h: proceeding with the preprocessor's result" >&2;}
-    (
-      cat <<\_ASBOX
-## ------------------------------------ ##
-## Report this to bug-autoconf@gnu.org. ##
-## ------------------------------------ ##
-_ASBOX
-    ) |
-      sed "s/^/$as_me: WARNING:     /" >&2
-    ;;
-  no:yes )
-    { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: WARNING: minix/config.h: present but cannot be compiled" >&5
-echo "$as_me: WARNING: minix/config.h: present but cannot be compiled" >&2;}
-    { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: WARNING: minix/config.h: check for missing prerequisite headers?" >&5
-echo "$as_me: WARNING: minix/config.h: check for missing prerequisite headers?" >&2;}
-    { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: WARNING: minix/config.h: proceeding with the preprocessor's result" >&5
-echo "$as_me: WARNING: minix/config.h: proceeding with the preprocessor's result" >&2;}
-    (
-      cat <<\_ASBOX
-## ------------------------------------ ##
-## Report this to bug-autoconf@gnu.org. ##
-## ------------------------------------ ##
-_ASBOX
-    ) |
-      sed "s/^/$as_me: WARNING:     /" >&2
-    ;;
-esac
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for minix/config.h" >&5
-echo $ECHO_N "checking for minix/config.h... $ECHO_C" >&6
-if test "${ac_cv_header_minix_config_h+set}" = set; then
-  echo $ECHO_N "(cached) $ECHO_C" >&6
-else
-  ac_cv_header_minix_config_h=$ac_header_preproc
-fi
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $ac_cv_header_minix_config_h" >&5
-echo "${ECHO_T}$ac_cv_header_minix_config_h" >&6
-
-fi
-if test $ac_cv_header_minix_config_h = yes; then
-  MINIX=yes
-else
-  MINIX=
-fi
-
-
-if test "$MINIX" = yes; then
-
-cat >>confdefs.h <<\_ACEOF
-#define _POSIX_SOURCE 1
-_ACEOF
-
-
-cat >>confdefs.h <<\_ACEOF
-#define _POSIX_1_SOURCE 2
-_ACEOF
-
-
-cat >>confdefs.h <<\_ACEOF
-#define _MINIX 1
-_ACEOF
-
-fi
-
 
 # Check for unsupported systems
 case $ac_sys_system/$ac_sys_release in
@@ -3393,12 +3016,6 @@ SunOS/4*|DYNIX/*|dgux*/*|IRIX/4*|Linux*/1*)
    exit 1;;
 esac
 
-if test "$MINIX" = yes; then
-   echo This system \(MINIX\) is no longer supported.
-   echo Read README for details.
-   exit 1
-fi
-
 
 echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for --with-suffix" >&5
 echo $ECHO_N "checking for --with-suffix... $ECHO_C" >&6
@@ -4640,6 +4257,69 @@ _ACEOF
 
 fi
 
+# On IRIX 5.3, sys/types and inttypes.h are conflicting.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+for ac_header in sys/types.h sys/stat.h stdlib.h string.h memory.h strings.h \
+                  inttypes.h stdint.h unistd.h
+do
+as_ac_Header=`echo "ac_cv_header_$ac_header" | $as_tr_sh`
+echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for $ac_header" >&5
+echo $ECHO_N "checking for $ac_header... $ECHO_C" >&6
+if eval "test \"\${$as_ac_Header+set}\" = set"; then
+  echo $ECHO_N "(cached) $ECHO_C" >&6
+else
+  cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
+#line $LINENO "configure"
+/* confdefs.h.  */
+_ACEOF
+cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
+cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+$ac_includes_default
+
+#include <$ac_header>
+_ACEOF
+rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
+if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
+  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
+  ac_status=$?
+  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+  (exit $ac_status); } &&
+         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
+  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
+  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
+  ac_status=$?
+  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
+  eval "$as_ac_Header=yes"
+else
+  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
+sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
+
+eval "$as_ac_Header=no"
+fi
+rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
+fi
+echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: `eval echo '${'$as_ac_Header'}'`" >&5
+echo "${ECHO_T}`eval echo '${'$as_ac_Header'}'`" >&6
+if test `eval echo '${'$as_ac_Header'}'` = yes; then
+  cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
+#define `echo "HAVE_$ac_header" | $as_tr_cpp` 1
+_ACEOF
+
+fi
+
+done
+
+
 
 
 
@@ -5975,6 +5655,7 @@ fi
 
 
 # Sizes of various common basic types
+# ANSI C requires sizeof(char) == 1, so no need to check it
 echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for int" >&5
 echo $ECHO_N "checking for int... $ECHO_C" >&6
 if test "${ac_cv_type_int+set}" = set; then
@@ -7058,367 +6739,6 @@ cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
 _ACEOF
 
 
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for char" >&5
-echo $ECHO_N "checking for char... $ECHO_C" >&6
-if test "${ac_cv_type_char+set}" = set; then
-  echo $ECHO_N "(cached) $ECHO_C" >&6
-else
-  cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-$ac_includes_default
-int
-main ()
-{
-if ((char *) 0)
-  return 0;
-if (sizeof (char))
-  return 0;
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } &&
-         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  ac_cv_type_char=yes
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-ac_cv_type_char=no
-fi
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-fi
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $ac_cv_type_char" >&5
-echo "${ECHO_T}$ac_cv_type_char" >&6
-
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking size of char" >&5
-echo $ECHO_N "checking size of char... $ECHO_C" >&6
-if test "${ac_cv_sizeof_char+set}" = set; then
-  echo $ECHO_N "(cached) $ECHO_C" >&6
-else
-  if test "$ac_cv_type_char" = yes; then
-  # The cast to unsigned long works around a bug in the HP C Compiler
-  # version HP92453-01 B.11.11.23709.GP, which incorrectly rejects
-  # declarations like `int a3[[(sizeof (unsigned char)) >= 0]];'.
-  # This bug is HP SR number 8606223364.
-  if test "$cross_compiling" = yes; then
-  # Depending upon the size, compute the lo and hi bounds.
-cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-$ac_includes_default
-int
-main ()
-{
-static int test_array [1 - 2 * !(((long) (sizeof (char))) >= 0)];
-test_array [0] = 0
-
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } &&
-         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  ac_lo=0 ac_mid=0
-  while :; do
-    cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-$ac_includes_default
-int
-main ()
-{
-static int test_array [1 - 2 * !(((long) (sizeof (char))) <= $ac_mid)];
-test_array [0] = 0
-
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } &&
-         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  ac_hi=$ac_mid; break
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-ac_lo=`expr $ac_mid + 1`
-                    if test $ac_lo -le $ac_mid; then
-                      ac_lo= ac_hi=
-                      break
-                    fi
-                    ac_mid=`expr 2 '*' $ac_mid + 1`
-fi
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-  done
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-$ac_includes_default
-int
-main ()
-{
-static int test_array [1 - 2 * !(((long) (sizeof (char))) < 0)];
-test_array [0] = 0
-
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } &&
-         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  ac_hi=-1 ac_mid=-1
-  while :; do
-    cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-$ac_includes_default
-int
-main ()
-{
-static int test_array [1 - 2 * !(((long) (sizeof (char))) >= $ac_mid)];
-test_array [0] = 0
-
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } &&
-         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  ac_lo=$ac_mid; break
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-ac_hi=`expr '(' $ac_mid ')' - 1`
-                       if test $ac_mid -le $ac_hi; then
-                         ac_lo= ac_hi=
-                         break
-                       fi
-                       ac_mid=`expr 2 '*' $ac_mid`
-fi
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-  done
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-ac_lo= ac_hi=
-fi
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-fi
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-# Binary search between lo and hi bounds.
-while test "x$ac_lo" != "x$ac_hi"; do
-  ac_mid=`expr '(' $ac_hi - $ac_lo ')' / 2 + $ac_lo`
-  cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-$ac_includes_default
-int
-main ()
-{
-static int test_array [1 - 2 * !(((long) (sizeof (char))) <= $ac_mid)];
-test_array [0] = 0
-
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } &&
-         { ac_try='test -s conftest.$ac_objext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  ac_hi=$ac_mid
-else
-  echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-ac_lo=`expr '(' $ac_mid ')' + 1`
-fi
-rm -f conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-done
-case $ac_lo in
-?*) ac_cv_sizeof_char=$ac_lo;;
-'') { { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: cannot compute sizeof (char), 77
-See \`config.log' for more details." >&5
-echo "$as_me: error: cannot compute sizeof (char), 77
-See \`config.log' for more details." >&2;}
-   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; } ;;
-esac
-else
-  if test "$cross_compiling" = yes; then
-  { { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: cannot run test program while cross compiling
-See \`config.log' for more details." >&5
-echo "$as_me: error: cannot run test program while cross compiling
-See \`config.log' for more details." >&2;}
-   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
-else
-  cat >conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-#line $LINENO "configure"
-/* confdefs.h.  */
-_ACEOF
-cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
-cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-$ac_includes_default
-long longval () { return (long) (sizeof (char)); }
-unsigned long ulongval () { return (long) (sizeof (char)); }
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-int
-main ()
-{
-
-  FILE *f = fopen ("conftest.val", "w");
-  if (! f)
-    exit (1);
-  if (((long) (sizeof (char))) < 0)
-    {
-      long i = longval ();
-      if (i != ((long) (sizeof (char))))
-	exit (1);
-      fprintf (f, "%ld\n", i);
-    }
-  else
-    {
-      unsigned long i = ulongval ();
-      if (i != ((long) (sizeof (char))))
-	exit (1);
-      fprintf (f, "%lu\n", i);
-    }
-  exit (ferror (f) || fclose (f) != 0);
-
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-rm -f conftest$ac_exeext
-if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_link\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_link) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); } && { ac_try='./conftest$ac_exeext'
-  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
-  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
-  ac_status=$?
-  echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
-  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
-  ac_cv_sizeof_char=`cat conftest.val`
-else
-  echo "$as_me: program exited with status $ac_status" >&5
-echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
-sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
-
-( exit $ac_status )
-{ { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: cannot compute sizeof (char), 77
-See \`config.log' for more details." >&5
-echo "$as_me: error: cannot compute sizeof (char), 77
-See \`config.log' for more details." >&2;}
-   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
-fi
-rm -f core core.* *.core gmon.out bb.out conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_objext conftest.$ac_ext
-fi
-fi
-rm -f conftest.val
-else
-  ac_cv_sizeof_char=0
-fi
-fi
-echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $ac_cv_sizeof_char" >&5
-echo "${ECHO_T}$ac_cv_sizeof_char" >&6
-cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
-#define SIZEOF_CHAR $ac_cv_sizeof_char
-_ACEOF
-
-
 echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for short" >&5
 echo $ECHO_N "checking for short... $ECHO_C" >&6
 if test "${ac_cv_type_short+set}" = set; then
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 9a4183ca6cd..2628806ef56 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -329,7 +329,6 @@ AC_PROG_CC
 
 # checks for UNIX variants that set C preprocessor variables
 AC_AIX
-AC_MINIX
 
 # Check for unsupported systems
 case $ac_sys_system/$ac_sys_release in
@@ -339,12 +338,6 @@ SunOS/4*|DYNIX/*|dgux*/*|IRIX/4*|Linux*/1*)
    exit 1;;
 esac
 
-if test "$MINIX" = yes; then
-   echo This system \(MINIX\) is no longer supported.
-   echo Read README for details.
-   exit 1
-fi
-
 AC_EXEEXT
 AC_MSG_CHECKING(for --with-suffix)
 AC_ARG_WITH(suffix,
@@ -1014,10 +1007,10 @@ AC_TYPE_SIZE_T
 AC_TYPE_UID_T
 
 # Sizes of various common basic types
+# ANSI C requires sizeof(char) == 1, so no need to check it
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(int, 4)
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(long, 4)
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(void *, 4)
-AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(char, 1)
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(short, 2)
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(float, 4)
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(double, 8)
diff --git a/pyconfig.h.in b/pyconfig.h.in
index b999f3354e9..9e3fb7b15a5 100644
--- a/pyconfig.h.in
+++ b/pyconfig.h.in
@@ -704,9 +704,6 @@
 /* Define if i>>j for signed int i does not extend the sign bit when i < 0 */
 #undef SIGNED_RIGHT_SHIFT_ZERO_FILLS
 
-/* The size of a `char', as computed by sizeof. */
-#undef SIZEOF_CHAR
-
 /* The size of a `double', as computed by sizeof. */
 #undef SIZEOF_DOUBLE
 
@@ -833,9 +830,6 @@
 /* This must be defined on some systems to enable large file support. */
 #undef _LARGEFILE_SOURCE
 
-/* Define to 1 if on MINIX. */
-#undef _MINIX
-
 /* Define on NetBSD to activate all library features */
 #undef _NETBSD_SOURCE