diff --git a/mswin32/Build.bat b/mswin32/Build.bat
index 37e7c4940..87af7b4f2 100644
--- a/mswin32/Build.bat
+++ b/mswin32/Build.bat
@@ -7,9 +7,15 @@ for /f "usebackq delims=#" %%a in (`"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Visual Studio
 @echo on
 if "%TARGET%" == "Vars" ( goto :vars )
 
+mkdir build-pcre2
+cd build-pcre2
+cmake.exe -A Win32 -G "Visual Studio 16 2019" ..\..\libpcre\ || goto :QUIT
+cd ..
 msbuild -nologo nmap.sln -m -t:%TARGET% -p:Configuration="%VCCONFIG%" -p:Platform="Win32" -fl
-exit /b %errorlevel%
+goto :QUIT
 
 :vars
 cl.exe /nologo /EP make-vars.h > make-vars.make
+
+:QUIT
 exit /b %errorlevel%
diff --git a/mswin32/nmap.sln b/mswin32/nmap.sln
index 81c4b4983..1f015fef3 100644
--- a/mswin32/nmap.sln
+++ b/mswin32/nmap.sln
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "nmap", "nmap.vcxproj", "{36
 EndProject
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "nsock", "..\nsock\nsock.vcxproj", "{F8D6D1E3-D4EA-402C-98AA-168E5309BAF4}"
 EndProject
-Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "libpcre", "..\libpcre\libpcre.vcxproj", "{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}"
+Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "libpcre", "build-pcre2\pcre2-8-static.vcxproj", "{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}"
 EndProject
 Project("{8BC9CEB8-8B4A-11D0-8D11-00A0C91BC942}") = "nbase", "..\nbase\nbase.vcxproj", "{B630C8F7-3138-43E8-89ED-78742FA2AC5F}"
 EndProject
@@ -66,17 +66,17 @@ Global
 		{F8D6D1E3-D4EA-402C-98AA-168E5309BAF4}.Release-oem|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
 		{F8D6D1E3-D4EA-402C-98AA-168E5309BAF4}.Release-oem|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
 		{F8D6D1E3-D4EA-402C-98AA-168E5309BAF4}.Release-oem|x64.ActiveCfg = ReleaseNoPcap|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Debug|Win32.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Debug|Win32.Build.0 = Debug|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Debug|x64.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Ncat Static|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Ncat Static|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Release|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Release|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Release|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Release-oem|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Release-oem|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
-		{5DE86C7A-DE72-4265-8807-4CA38F94F22A}.Release-oem|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Debug|Win32.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Debug|Win32.Build.0 = Debug|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Debug|x64.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Ncat Static|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Ncat Static|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Release|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Release|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Release|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Release-oem|Win32.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Release-oem|Win32.Build.0 = Release|Win32
+		{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}.Release-oem|x64.ActiveCfg = Release|Win32
 		{B630C8F7-3138-43E8-89ED-78742FA2AC5F}.Debug|Win32.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
 		{B630C8F7-3138-43E8-89ED-78742FA2AC5F}.Debug|Win32.Build.0 = Debug|Win32
 		{B630C8F7-3138-43E8-89ED-78742FA2AC5F}.Debug|x64.ActiveCfg = Debug|Win32
diff --git a/mswin32/nmap.vcxproj b/mswin32/nmap.vcxproj
index 47f52dfd5..108ddcb3b 100644
--- a/mswin32/nmap.vcxproj
+++ b/mswin32/nmap.vcxproj
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@
     </Midl>
     <ClCompile>
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
-      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>.;..;..\liblua;..\nbase;..\libpcre;..\nsock\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Include;..\libdnet-stripped\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\include;..\liblinear;..\libssh2\include;..\libz;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>WIN32;_CONSOLE;BPF_MAJOR_VERSION;ZLIB_WINAPI;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>.;..;..\liblua;..\nbase;build-pcre2;..\nsock\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Include;..\libdnet-stripped\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\include;..\liblinear;..\libssh2\include;..\libz;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>WIN32;_CONSOLE;BPF_MAJOR_VERSION;ZLIB_WINAPI;PCRE2_STATIC;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <PreprocessToFile>false</PreprocessToFile>
       <PreprocessSuppressLineNumbers>false</PreprocessSuppressLineNumbers>
       <PreprocessKeepComments>false</PreprocessKeepComments>
@@ -90,10 +90,10 @@
       <ShowIncludes>false</ShowIncludes>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <AdditionalDependencies>liblua.lib;nsock.lib;libpcre.lib;nbase.lib;libdnet-stripped.lib;libssh2.lib;zlibwapi.lib;liblinear.lib;ws2_32.lib;IPHlpAPI.Lib;wpcap.lib;packet.lib;advapi32.lib;libcrypto.lib;libssl.lib;shell32.lib;libnetutil.lib</AdditionalDependencies>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>liblua.lib;nsock.lib;pcre2-8-static.lib;nbase.lib;libdnet-stripped.lib;libssh2.lib;zlibwapi.lib;liblinear.lib;ws2_32.lib;IPHlpAPI.Lib;wpcap.lib;packet.lib;advapi32.lib;libcrypto.lib;libssl.lib;shell32.lib;libnetutil.lib</AdditionalDependencies>
       <OutputFile>.\Debug\nmap.exe</OutputFile>
       <SuppressStartupBanner>true</SuppressStartupBanner>
-      <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>..\libssh2\win32\Debug_dll;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Lib;..\liblua;..\libpcre;..\nsock;..\nbase;..\libdnet-stripped;../libnetutil;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\lib;..\liblinear;..\libz\contrib\vstudio\vc14\x86\ZlibDllReleaseWithoutAsm;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
+      <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>..\libssh2\win32\Debug_dll;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Lib;..\liblua;build-pcre2\Debug;..\nsock;..\nbase;..\libdnet-stripped;../libnetutil;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\lib;..\liblinear;..\libz\contrib\vstudio\vc14\x86\ZlibDllReleaseWithoutAsm;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
       <IgnoreSpecificDefaultLibraries>%(IgnoreSpecificDefaultLibraries)</IgnoreSpecificDefaultLibraries>
       <DelayLoadDLLs>packet.dll;wpcap.dll</DelayLoadDLLs>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@
     <ClCompile>
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <InlineFunctionExpansion>OnlyExplicitInline</InlineFunctionExpansion>
-      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>.;..;..\liblua;..\nbase;..\libpcre;..\nsock\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Include;..\libdnet-stripped\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\include;..\liblinear;..\libssh2\include;..\libz;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>WIN32;_CONSOLE;BPF_MAJOR_VERSION;ZLIB_WINAPI;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>.;..;..\liblua;..\nbase;build-pcre2;..\nsock\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Include;..\libdnet-stripped\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\include;..\liblinear;..\libssh2\include;..\libz;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>WIN32;_CONSOLE;BPF_MAJOR_VERSION;ZLIB_WINAPI;PCRE2_STATIC;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <StringPooling>true</StringPooling>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <PrecompiledHeader>
@@ -131,10 +131,10 @@
       <CompileAs>CompileAsCpp</CompileAs>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <AdditionalDependencies>liblua.lib;nsock.lib;libpcre.lib;nbase.lib;libdnet-stripped.lib;libssh2.lib;zlibwapi.lib;liblinear.lib;ws2_32.lib;IPHlpAPI.Lib;wpcap.lib;packet.lib;advapi32.lib;libcrypto.lib;libssl.lib;shell32.lib;libnetutil.lib</AdditionalDependencies>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>liblua.lib;nsock.lib;pcre2-8-static.lib;nbase.lib;libdnet-stripped.lib;libssh2.lib;zlibwapi.lib;liblinear.lib;ws2_32.lib;IPHlpAPI.Lib;wpcap.lib;packet.lib;advapi32.lib;libcrypto.lib;libssl.lib;shell32.lib;libnetutil.lib</AdditionalDependencies>
       <OutputFile>.\$(Configuration)/nmap.exe</OutputFile>
       <SuppressStartupBanner>true</SuppressStartupBanner>
-      <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>..\libssh2\win32\Release_dll;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Lib;..\liblua;..\libpcre;..\nsock;..\nbase;..\libdnet-stripped;../libnetutil;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\lib;..\liblinear;..\libz\contrib\vstudio\vc14\x86\ZlibDllReleaseWithoutAsm;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
+      <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>..\libssh2\win32\Release_dll;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Lib;..\liblua;build-pcre2\Release;..\nsock;..\nbase;..\libdnet-stripped;../libnetutil;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\lib;..\liblinear;..\libz\contrib\vstudio\vc14\x86\ZlibDllReleaseWithoutAsm;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
       <IgnoreSpecificDefaultLibraries>%(IgnoreSpecificDefaultLibraries)</IgnoreSpecificDefaultLibraries>
       <DelayLoadDLLs>packet.dll;wpcap.dll</DelayLoadDLLs>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@
     <ClCompile>
       <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
       <InlineFunctionExpansion>OnlyExplicitInline</InlineFunctionExpansion>
-      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>.;..;..\liblua;..\nbase;..\libpcre;..\nsock\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Include;..\libdnet-stripped\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\include;..\liblinear;..\libssh2\include;..\libz;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NMAP_OEM;WIN32;_CONSOLE;BPF_MAJOR_VERSION;ZLIB_WINAPI;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>.;..;..\liblua;..\nbase;build-pcre2;..\nsock\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Include;..\libdnet-stripped\include;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\include;..\liblinear;..\libssh2\include;..\libz;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NMAP_OEM;WIN32;_CONSOLE;BPF_MAJOR_VERSION;ZLIB_WINAPI;PCRE2_STATIC;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <StringPooling>true</StringPooling>
       <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
       <PrecompiledHeader>
@@ -171,10 +171,10 @@
       <CompileAs>CompileAsCpp</CompileAs>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
-      <AdditionalDependencies>liblua.lib;nsock.lib;libpcre.lib;nbase.lib;libdnet-stripped.lib;libssh2.lib;zlibwapi.lib;liblinear.lib;ws2_32.lib;IPHlpAPI.Lib;wpcap.lib;packet.lib;advapi32.lib;libcrypto.lib;libssl.lib;shell32.lib;libnetutil.lib</AdditionalDependencies>
+      <AdditionalDependencies>liblua.lib;nsock.lib;pcre2-8-static.lib;nbase.lib;libdnet-stripped.lib;libssh2.lib;zlibwapi.lib;liblinear.lib;ws2_32.lib;IPHlpAPI.Lib;wpcap.lib;packet.lib;advapi32.lib;libcrypto.lib;libssl.lib;shell32.lib;libnetutil.lib</AdditionalDependencies>
       <OutputFile>.\$(Configuration)/nmap.exe</OutputFile>
       <SuppressStartupBanner>true</SuppressStartupBanner>
-      <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>..\libssh2\win32\Release_dll;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Lib;..\liblua;..\libpcre;..\nsock;..\nbase;..\libdnet-stripped;../libnetutil;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\lib;..\liblinear;..\libz\contrib\vstudio\vc14\x86\ZlibDllReleaseWithoutAsm;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
+      <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>..\libssh2\win32\Release_dll;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\Npcap\Lib;..\liblua;build-pcre2\Release..\nsock;..\nbase;..\libdnet-stripped;../libnetutil;..\..\nmap-mswin32-aux\OpenSSL\lib;..\liblinear;..\libz\contrib\vstudio\vc14\x86\ZlibDllReleaseWithoutAsm;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
       <IgnoreSpecificDefaultLibraries>%(IgnoreSpecificDefaultLibraries)</IgnoreSpecificDefaultLibraries>
       <DelayLoadDLLs>packet.dll;wpcap.dll</DelayLoadDLLs>
       <GenerateDebugInformation>true</GenerateDebugInformation>
@@ -407,8 +407,8 @@
       <Project>{31fb0767-a71f-4575-8379-002d72b8af86}</Project>
       <ReferenceOutputAssembly>false</ReferenceOutputAssembly>
     </ProjectReference>
-    <ProjectReference Include="..\libpcre\libpcre.vcxproj">
-      <Project>{5de86c7a-de72-4265-8807-4ca38f94f22a}</Project>
+    <ProjectReference Include="build-pcre2\pcre2-8-static.vcxproj">
+      <Project>{6FC03DB9-D882-3161-ABEE-A44A395E05B3}</Project>
       <ReferenceOutputAssembly>false</ReferenceOutputAssembly>
     </ProjectReference>
     <ProjectReference Include="..\libssh2\win32\libssh2.vcxproj">