How to Install a Crossfire Server on Windows:

Please follow the steps in the right order!

o First step: Before you can compile the Crossfire source,
  you must install a python script engine on your computer.
  Python is the default script engine of Crossfire.
  You can find the python engine here: http://www.python.org/.
  The current Crossfire server use Python 2.1.1 .
  The Package comes with Installer and pre compiled libs & dlls,
  you have only to install them. The VisualC Crossfire settings are for
  d:\python21 . You can install the package of course on a different
  spot, but you habe then to change the pathes in the VC settings.
  Go in Settings/C++ and Settings/Link and change the optional
  include and libs path to the new python installation path.

o 2nd step: Go in make_win32 (this is the same folder where this
  doc should be) and run "installwin32.bat"! Be sure you do this before
  you compile! The bat-file will make & copy all folders and files
  you need to run the server later, except the maps!
  You must download a map package and install them the share folder.
  Its must look like this: crossfire\share\maps\... .

o 3rd step: You must compile the program. You'll need
  Visual C++ to do this (or some other ANSI C-compiler that can
  read *.dsw files). After unpacking the crossfire package, doubleclick
  on "crossfire32.dsw". 
  There are 3 projects in your Workspace: Crossfire32 (the server),
  libcross.lib and plugin_python . You need to compile all 3. Easiest
  way is to select the plugin_python - ReleaseLog as active Project,
  this will compile all others too.
  Then - in Visual C++ - press <F7> to compile.
  If you don't have an appropriate compiler you can try to get
  the binary (crossfire32.exe file and plugin_python.dll) from *somewhere*.
  After the compiler is successul, the VC copies the crossfire32.exe in the
  "crossfire" folder and the plugin_python.dll in the crossfire/share/plugins
  folder.   

  NOTE: The compiling will give you >400 warning messages. Thats
  some casting warnings from the original unix source - they are
  not harmfull. Ignore them, we will remove it when we get
  time for it.

o Last step: Run the program "crossfire32.exe" (in the directory
  "crossfire"). A dos-prompt should open now, showing lots of
  weird text: the server logs.
  You're done - the server is up and ready for connections. :-)

If you still have troubles, write to the Crossfire mailing list:
<crossfire-list@lists.real-time.com>. Doing so, please
provide as much information on your problem as possible!
Most important: Tell us exactly what version of crossfire
you've used. If it's an old version, update first and see if
that solves your problem.