diff -r 435ec4e14eff -r aeca8151886e hotspot/make/windows/makefiles/compile.make
--- a/hotspot/make/windows/makefiles/compile.make	Wed Feb 22 10:32:29 2012 -0800
+++ b/hotspot/make/windows/makefiles/compile.make	Wed Feb 22 09:24:35 2012 +0100
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@
 #
 
 # Generic compiler settings
+!if "x$(CXX)" == "x"
 CXX=cl.exe
+!endif
 
 # CXX Flags: (these vary slightly from VC6->VS2003->VS2005 compilers)
 #   /nologo   Supress copyright message at every cl.exe startup
@@ -183,8 +185,10 @@
 LD_FLAGS = /manifest $(LD_FLAGS) $(BUFFEROVERFLOWLIB)
 # Manifest Tool - used in VS2005 and later to adjust manifests stored
 # as resources inside build artifacts.
+!if "x$(MT)" == "x"
 MT=mt.exe
 !endif
+!endif
 
 !if "$(COMPILER_NAME)" == "VS2008"
 PRODUCT_OPT_OPTION   = /O2 /Oy-
@@ -194,8 +198,10 @@
 LD_FLAGS = /manifest $(LD_FLAGS)
 # Manifest Tool - used in VS2005 and later to adjust manifests stored
 # as resources inside build artifacts.
+!if "x$(MT)" == "x"
 MT=mt.exe
 !endif
+!endif
 
 !if "$(COMPILER_NAME)" == "VS2010"
 PRODUCT_OPT_OPTION   = /O2 /Oy-
@@ -205,7 +211,9 @@
 LD_FLAGS = /manifest $(LD_FLAGS)
 # Manifest Tool - used in VS2005 and later to adjust manifests stored
 # as resources inside build artifacts.
+!if "x$(MT)" == "x"
 MT=mt.exe
+!endif
 !if "$(BUILDARCH)" == "i486"
 LD_FLAGS = /SAFESEH $(LD_FLAGS)
 !endif
@@ -225,7 +233,9 @@
 !endif
 
 # Generic linker settings
+!if "x$(LD)" == "x"
 LD=link.exe
+!endif
 LD_FLAGS= $(LD_FLAGS) kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib \
  comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib \
  uuid.lib Wsock32.lib winmm.lib /nologo /machine:$(MACHINE) /opt:REF \
@@ -237,7 +247,9 @@
 !endif
 
 # Resource compiler settings
+!if "x$(RC)" == "x"
 RC=rc.exe
+!endif
 RC_FLAGS=/D "HS_VER=$(HS_VER)" \
 	 /D "HS_DOTVER=$(HS_DOTVER)" \
 	 /D "HS_BUILD_ID=$(HS_BUILD_ID)" \