diff --git a/mbuild/build_env.py b/mbuild/build_env.py
index 396cd99..85a1c4f 100755
--- a/mbuild/build_env.py
+++ b/mbuild/build_env.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def set_env_gnu(env):
         env['ARCHIVER'] = ( 'compiler', { 'gnu': 'ar',    # or GAR??
                                           'icc' : 'xiar',
                                           'iclang' : 'xiar',
-                                          'clang':'llvm-ar' })
+                                          'clang':'ar' })
     if env['RANLIB_CMD'] == '':
         env['RANLIB_CMD'] = 'ranlib'
 
@@ -250,20 +250,6 @@ def find_ms_toolchain(env):
     # anything else is probably questionable.
 
     incoming_setup = True # presume system setup by user
-    if env['vc_dir'] == '' or env['setup_msvc']:
-        incoming_setup = False
-        env['vc_dir'] = msvs.set_msvs_env(env)
-
-    # toolchain is the bin directory of the compiler with a trailing slash
-    if env['toolchain'] == '':
-        if incoming_setup: 
-            # relying on user-setup env (say MSVS cmd.exe or vcvars-equiv bat file)
-            if os.environ['VisualStudioVersion']  in ['15.0','16.0','17.0']:
-                env['msvs_version'] = str(int(float(os.environ['VisualStudioVersion'])))
-                msvs.set_msvc_compilers(env, os.environ['VCToolsInstallDir'])
-        if env['compiler']=='ms':
-            env['toolchain'] = msvs.pick_compiler(env)
-    
 
         
 def _check_set_rc(env, sdk):
@@ -366,22 +352,6 @@ def set_env_ms(env):
 
     env['link_prefix'] = ('use_compiler_to_link', { True:'/link', 
                                                     False:'' })
-    if env['host_cpu'] == 'ia32':
-        env['LINKFLAGS'] += ' %(link_prefix)s /MACHINE:X86'
-        env['ARFLAGS']   += ' /MACHINE:X86'
-    elif env['host_cpu'] == 'x86-64':
-        env['LINKFLAGS'] += ' %(link_prefix)s /MACHINE:X64'
-        env['ARFLAGS']   += ' /MACHINE:X64'
-
-        env['favor'] = ( 'compiler', { 'ms'        : ' /favor:EM64T', 
-                                       'otherwise' : '' })
-        env['CXXFLAGS'] += ' %(favor)s'
-        env['CCFLAGS']  += ' %(favor)s'
-                          
-    elif env['host_cpu'] == 'ipf':
-        env['LINKFLAGS'] += ' %(link_prefix)s /MACHINE:IA64'
-        env['ARFLAGS']   += ' /MACHINE:IA64'
-
     env['COPT'] = '/c'
     env['DOPT'] = '/D'
     env['ASDOPT'] = '/D'