diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 79617fd0..4dbc54d7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,6 +28,22 @@ Or when you have question about MySQL:
 Building mysqlclient on Windows is very hard.
 But there are some binary wheels you can install easily.
 
+If binary wheels do not exist for your version of Python, it may be possible to
+build from source, but if this does not work, **do not come asking for support.**
+To build from source, download the
+[MariaDB C Connector](https://mariadb.com/downloads/#connectors) and install
+it. It must be installed in the default location
+(usually "C:\Program Files\MariaDB\MariaDB Connector C" or
+"C:\Program Files (x86)\MariaDB\MariaDB Connector C" for 32-bit). If you
+build the connector yourself or install it in a different location, set the
+environment variable `MYSQLCLIENT_CONNECTOR` before installing. Once you have
+the connector installed and an appropriate version of Visual Studio for your
+version of Python:
+
+```
+$ pip install mysqlclient
+```
+
 ### macOS (Homebrew)
 
 Install MySQL and mysqlclient:
diff --git a/setup_windows.py b/setup_windows.py
index c25cc52b..b2feb7d2 100644
--- a/setup_windows.py
+++ b/setup_windows.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import os
 import sys
-from distutils.msvccompiler import get_build_version
 
 
 def get_config():
@@ -8,35 +7,34 @@ def get_config():
 
     metadata, options = get_metadata_and_options()
 
-    connector = options["connector"]
+    client = "mariadbclient"
+    connector = os.environ.get("MYSQLCLIENT_CONNECTOR", options.get("connector"))
+    if not connector:
+        connector = os.path.join(
+            os.environ["ProgramFiles"], "MariaDB", "MariaDB Connector C"
+        )
 
     extra_objects = []
 
-    # client = "mysqlclient"
-    client = "mariadbclient"
-
-    vcversion = int(get_build_version())
-    if client == "mariadbclient":
-        library_dirs = [os.path.join(connector, "lib", "mariadb")]
-        libraries = [
-            "kernel32",
-            "advapi32",
-            "wsock32",
-            "shlwapi",
-            "Ws2_32",
-            "crypt32",
-            "secur32",
-            "bcrypt",
-            client,
-        ]
-        include_dirs = [os.path.join(connector, "include", "mariadb")]
-    else:
-        library_dirs = [
-            os.path.join(connector, r"lib\vs%d" % vcversion),
-            os.path.join(connector, "lib"),
-        ]
-        libraries = ["kernel32", "advapi32", "wsock32", client]
-        include_dirs = [os.path.join(connector, r"include")]
+    library_dirs = [
+        os.path.join(connector, "lib", "mariadb"),
+        os.path.join(connector, "lib"),
+    ]
+    libraries = [
+        "kernel32",
+        "advapi32",
+        "wsock32",
+        "shlwapi",
+        "Ws2_32",
+        "crypt32",
+        "secur32",
+        "bcrypt",
+        client,
+    ]
+    include_dirs = [
+        os.path.join(connector, "include", "mariadb"),
+        os.path.join(connector, "include"),
+    ]
 
     extra_link_args = ["/MANIFEST"]
 
diff --git a/site.cfg b/site.cfg
index 6b4596a4..08a14b0e 100644
--- a/site.cfg
+++ b/site.cfg
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@ static = False
 
 # http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1972259/mysql-python-install-problem-using-virtualenv-windows-pip
 # Windows connector libs for MySQL. You need a 32-bit connector for your 32-bit Python build.
-connector = C:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\MySQL Connector C 6.1
+connector =