diff --git a/include/wx/gdicmn.h b/include/wx/gdicmn.h
index 20ad31eebe..3cd8a18402 100644
--- a/include/wx/gdicmn.h
+++ b/include/wx/gdicmn.h
@@ -151,10 +151,10 @@ enum wxStockCursor
 
 #ifdef __WXMSW__
     // Load from a resource
-    #define wxICON(X) wxIcon("" #X "")
+    #define wxICON(X) wxIcon(wxT(#X))
 #elif defined(__WXPM__)
     // Load from a resource
-    #define wxICON(X) wxIcon("" #X "")
+    #define wxICON(X) wxIcon(wxT(#X))
 #elif defined(__WXMGL__)
     // Initialize from an included XPM
     #define wxICON(X) wxIcon( (const char**) X##_xpm )
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ enum wxStockCursor
     #define wxICON(X) wxIcon( X##_xpm )
 #else
     // This will usually mean something on any platform
-    #define wxICON(X) wxIcon("" #X "")
+    #define wxICON(X) wxIcon(wxT(#X))
 #endif // platform
 
 /* Another macro: this one is for portable creation of bitmaps. We assume that
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ enum wxStockCursor
  */
 
 #if defined(__WXMSW__) || defined(__WXPM__)
-    #define wxBITMAP(name) wxBitmap(#name, wxBITMAP_TYPE_RESOURCE)
+    #define wxBITMAP(name) wxBitmap(wxT(#name), wxBITMAP_TYPE_RESOURCE)
 #elif defined(__WXGTK__) || defined(__WXMOTIF__) || defined(__WXX11__) || defined(__WXMAC__) || defined(__WXMGL__)
     // Initialize from an included XPM
     #define wxBITMAP(name) wxBitmap( (const char**) name##_xpm )
diff --git a/include/wx/msw/notebook.h b/include/wx/msw/notebook.h
index b26643862e..a1b0dd334f 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/notebook.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/notebook.h
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ public:
              const wxPoint& pos = wxDefaultPosition,
              const wxSize& size = wxDefaultSize,
              long style = 0,
-             const wxString& name = "notebook");
+             const wxString& name = wxT("notebook"));
     // Create() function
   bool Create(wxWindow *parent,
               wxWindowID id,
               const wxPoint& pos = wxDefaultPosition,
               const wxSize& size = wxDefaultSize,
               long style = 0,
-              const wxString& name = "notebook");
+              const wxString& name = wxT("notebook"));
 
   // accessors
   // ---------
diff --git a/include/wx/msw/tabctrl.h b/include/wx/msw/tabctrl.h
index d1985bfddd..e83f9f2ec0 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/tabctrl.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/tabctrl.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class WXDLLEXPORT wxTabCtrl: public wxControl
     wxTabCtrl();
 
     inline wxTabCtrl(wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID id, const wxPoint& pos = wxDefaultPosition, const wxSize& size = wxDefaultSize,
-            long style = 0, const wxString& name = "tabCtrl")
+            long style = 0, const wxString& name = wxT("tabCtrl"))
     {
         Create(parent, id, pos, size, style, name);
     }
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class WXDLLEXPORT wxTabCtrl: public wxControl
 // Operations
 
     bool Create(wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID id, const wxPoint& pos = wxDefaultPosition, const wxSize& size = wxDefaultSize,
-                long style = 0, const wxString& name = "tabCtrl");
+                long style = 0, const wxString& name = wxT("tabCtrl"));
 
     // Delete all items
     bool DeleteAllItems();
diff --git a/include/wx/msw/taskbar.h b/include/wx/msw/taskbar.h
index b93a400944..2da54b6894 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/taskbar.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/taskbar.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public:
     inline bool IsIconInstalled() const { return m_iconAdded; }
 
 // Operations
-    bool SetIcon(const wxIcon& icon, const wxString& tooltip = "");
+    bool SetIcon(const wxIcon& icon, const wxString& tooltip = wxEmptyString);
     bool RemoveIcon(void);
     bool PopupMenu(wxMenu *menu); //, int x, int y);
 
diff --git a/include/wx/msw/treectrl.h b/include/wx/msw/treectrl.h
index dd1deab918..da856922ab 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/treectrl.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/treectrl.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public:
                const wxSize& size = wxDefaultSize,
                long style = wxTR_HAS_BUTTONS | wxTR_LINES_AT_ROOT,
                const wxValidator& validator = wxDefaultValidator,
-               const wxString& name = "wxTreeCtrl")
+               const wxString& name = wxT("wxTreeCtrl"))
     {
         Create(parent, id, pos, size, style, validator, name);
     }
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ public:
                 const wxSize& size = wxDefaultSize,
                 long style = wxTR_HAS_BUTTONS | wxTR_LINES_AT_ROOT,
                 const wxValidator& validator = wxDefaultValidator,
-                const wxString& name = "wxTreeCtrl");
+                const wxString& name = wxT("wxTreeCtrl"));
 
     // accessors
     // ---------
diff --git a/src/common/mimecmn.cpp b/src/common/mimecmn.cpp
index 1335ec68bf..c663f9d7bd 100644
--- a/src/common/mimecmn.cpp
+++ b/src/common/mimecmn.cpp
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ bool wxFileType::SetDefaultIcon(const wxString& cmd, int index)
     // VZ: should we do this?
     // chris elliott : only makes sense in MS windows
     if ( sTmp.empty() )
-        GetOpenCommand(&sTmp, wxFileType::MessageParameters("", ""));
+        GetOpenCommand(&sTmp, wxFileType::MessageParameters(wxT(""), wxT("")));
 #endif
     wxCHECK_MSG( !sTmp.empty(), FALSE, _T("need the icon file") );
 
diff --git a/src/common/regex.cpp b/src/common/regex.cpp
index 7b480f24c8..cbaa57991d 100644
--- a/src/common/regex.cpp
+++ b/src/common/regex.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ wxString wxRegExImpl::GetErrorMsg(int errorcode) const
 
         (void)regerror(errorcode, &m_RegEx, (char *)buf.data(), len);
 
-        msg = buf.data();
+        msg = wxString(buf.data(), wxConvLibc);
 #else // !Unicode
         (void)regerror(errorcode, &m_RegEx, msg.GetWriteBuf(len), len);
 
diff --git a/src/common/sckaddr.cpp b/src/common/sckaddr.cpp
index ff8739c79d..4133715628 100644
--- a/src/common/sckaddr.cpp
+++ b/src/common/sckaddr.cpp
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ bool wxIPV4address::Hostname(unsigned long addr)
   if (rv)
       m_origHostname = Hostname();
   else
-      m_origHostname = "";
+      m_origHostname = wxEmptyString;
   return rv;
 }
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ wxString wxIPV4address::Hostname()
 
    hostname[0] = 0;
    GAddress_INET_GetHostName(m_address, hostname, 1024);
-   return wxString(hostname);
+   return wxString::FromAscii(hostname);
 }
 
 unsigned short wxIPV4address::Service()
diff --git a/src/generic/dcpsg.cpp b/src/generic/dcpsg.cpp
index 49f764e9cb..0a2b1a8c16 100644
--- a/src/generic/dcpsg.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/dcpsg.cpp
@@ -2093,40 +2093,40 @@ void wxPostScriptDC::DoGetTextExtent(const wxString& string,
         lastStyle =  Style;
         lastWeight = Weight;
 
-        const char *name = NULL;
+        const wxChar *name = NULL;
 
         switch (Family)
         {
             case wxMODERN:
             case wxTELETYPE:
             {
-                if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = "CourBoO.afm";
-                else if ((Style != wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = "CourBo.afm";
-                else if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight != wxBOLD)) name = "CourO.afm";
-                else name = "Cour.afm";
+                if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = wxT("CourBoO.afm");
+                else if ((Style != wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = wxT("CourBo.afm");
+                else if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight != wxBOLD)) name = wxT("CourO.afm");
+                else name = wxT("Cour.afm");
                 break;
             }
             case wxROMAN:
             {
-                if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = "TimesBoO.afm";
-                else if ((Style != wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = "TimesBo.afm";
-                else if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight != wxBOLD)) name = "TimesO.afm";
-                else name = "TimesRo.afm";
+                if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = wxT("TimesBoO.afm");
+                else if ((Style != wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = wxT("TimesBo.afm");
+                else if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight != wxBOLD)) name = wxT("TimesO.afm");
+                else name = wxT("TimesRo.afm");
                 break;
             }
             case wxSCRIPT:
             {
-                name = "Zapf.afm";
+                name = wxT("Zapf.afm");
                 Style = wxNORMAL;
                 Weight = wxNORMAL;
             }
             case wxSWISS:
             default:
             {
-                if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = "HelvBoO.afm";
-                else if ((Style != wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = "HelvBo.afm";
-                else if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight != wxBOLD)) name = "HelvO.afm";
-                else name = "Helv.afm";
+                if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = wxT("HelvBoO.afm");
+                else if ((Style != wxITALIC) && (Weight == wxBOLD)) name = wxT("HelvBo.afm");
+                else if ((Style == wxITALIC) && (Weight != wxBOLD)) name = wxT("HelvO.afm");
+                else name = wxT("Helv.afm");
                 break;
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/msw/helpbest.cpp b/src/msw/helpbest.cpp
index 0efbdded53..6fb956a0d7 100644
--- a/src/msw/helpbest.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/helpbest.cpp
@@ -76,18 +76,18 @@ wxString wxBestHelpController::GetValidFilename( const wxString& filename ) cons
     switch( m_helpControllerType )
     {
         case wxUseChmHelp:
-            if( ::wxFileExists( tmp + ".chm" ) )
-                return tmp + ".chm";
+            if( ::wxFileExists( tmp + wxT(".chm") ) )
+                return tmp + wxT(".chm");
 
             return filename;
 
         case wxUseHtmlHelp:
-            if( ::wxFileExists( tmp + ".htb" ) )
-                return tmp + ".htb";
-            if( ::wxFileExists( tmp + ".zip" ) )
-                return tmp + ".zip";
-            if( ::wxFileExists( tmp + ".hhp" ) )
-                return tmp + ".hhp";
+            if( ::wxFileExists( tmp + wxT(".htb") ) )
+                return tmp + wxT(".htb");
+            if( ::wxFileExists( tmp + wxT(".zip") ) )
+                return tmp + wxT(".zip");
+            if( ::wxFileExists( tmp + wxT(".hhp") ) )
+                return tmp + wxT(".hhp");
 
             return filename;
 
diff --git a/src/msw/helpchm.cpp b/src/msw/helpchm.cpp
index 20e0bbc27e..2871a9f782 100644
--- a/src/msw/helpchm.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/helpchm.cpp
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@
 
 #ifndef UNICODE
     typedef HWND ( WINAPI * HTMLHELP )( HWND, LPCSTR, UINT, DWORD );
-    #define HTMLHELP_NAME "HtmlHelpA"
+    #define HTMLHELP_NAME wxT("HtmlHelpA")
 #else // ANSI
     typedef HWND ( WINAPI * HTMLHELP )( HWND, LPCWSTR, UINT, DWORD );
-    #define HTMLHELP_NAME "HtmlHelpW"
+    #define HTMLHELP_NAME wxT("HtmlHelpW")
 #endif
 
 // dll symbol handle
diff --git a/src/msw/joystick.cpp b/src/msw/joystick.cpp
index 1faaa0caf6..1cfed85842 100644
--- a/src/msw/joystick.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/joystick.cpp
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ wxString wxJoystick::GetProductName() const
 {
     JOYCAPS joyCaps;
     if (joyGetDevCaps(m_joystick, & joyCaps, sizeof(JOYCAPS)) != JOYERR_NOERROR)
-        return wxString("");
+        return wxEmptyString;
     else
         return wxString(joyCaps.szPname);
 }
diff --git a/src/msw/listbox.cpp b/src/msw/listbox.cpp
index 5044afb5fd..b74874bc79 100644
--- a/src/msw/listbox.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/listbox.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
 class wxListBoxItem : public wxOwnerDrawn
 {
 public:
-    wxListBoxItem(const wxString& str = "");
+    wxListBoxItem(const wxString& str = wxEmptyString);
 };
 
 wxListBoxItem::wxListBoxItem(const wxString& str) : wxOwnerDrawn(str, FALSE)
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ void wxListBox::Delete(int N)
     SendMessage(GetHwnd(), LB_DELETESTRING, N, 0);
     m_noItems--;
 
-    SetHorizontalExtent("");
+    SetHorizontalExtent(wxEmptyString);
 }
 
 int wxListBox::DoAppend(const wxString& item)
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ int wxListBox::GetSelection() const
 // Find string for position
 wxString wxListBox::GetString(int N) const
 {
-    wxCHECK_MSG( N >= 0 && N < m_noItems, "",
+    wxCHECK_MSG( N >= 0 && N < m_noItems, wxEmptyString,
                  wxT("invalid index in wxListBox::GetClientData") );
 
     int len = ListBox_GetTextLen(GetHwnd(), N);
diff --git a/src/msw/listctrl.cpp b/src/msw/listctrl.cpp
index c5916ef7b1..d7ceb9433d 100644
--- a/src/msw/listctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/listctrl.cpp
@@ -925,7 +925,7 @@ wxString wxListCtrl::GetItemText(long item) const
     info.m_itemId = item;
 
     if (!GetItem(info))
-        return wxString("");
+        return wxEmptyString;
     return info.m_text;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/msw/mimetype.cpp b/src/msw/mimetype.cpp
index 8473fd1136..a453c99079 100644
--- a/src/msw/mimetype.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/mimetype.cpp
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ void wxFileTypeImpl::Init(const wxString& strFileType, const wxString& ext)
 
     m_strFileType = strFileType;
     if ( !strFileType ) {
-        m_strFileType = m_ext.AfterFirst('.') + "_auto_file";
+        m_strFileType = m_ext.AfterFirst('.') + _T("_auto_file");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/msw/regconf.cpp b/src/msw/regconf.cpp
index 6494b321f7..d9c5fd5aae 100644
--- a/src/msw/regconf.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/regconf.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 // we put our data in HKLM\SOFTWARE_KEY\appname
-#define SOFTWARE_KEY    wxString("Software\\")
+#define SOFTWARE_KEY    wxString(wxT("Software\\"))
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // global functions
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ bool wxRegConfig::DeleteEntry(const wxString& value, bool WXUNUSED(bGroupIfEmpty
 
     if ( m_keyLocal.IsEmpty() ) {
       wxString strKey = GetPath().AfterLast(wxCONFIG_PATH_SEPARATOR);
-      SetPath("..");  // changes m_keyLocal
+      SetPath(_T(".."));  // changes m_keyLocal
       return LocalKey().DeleteKey(strKey);
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/msw/registry.cpp b/src/msw/registry.cpp
index ca0f62ace8..75fb41f4aa 100644
--- a/src/msw/registry.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/registry.cpp
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ wxString wxRegKey::GetName(bool bShortPrefix) const
   wxString str = bShortPrefix ? aStdKeys[key].szShortName
                               : aStdKeys[key].szName;
   if ( !m_strKey.IsEmpty() )
-    str << "\\" << m_strKey;
+    str << _T("\\") << m_strKey;
 
   return str;
 }
diff --git a/src/msw/taskbar.cpp b/src/msw/taskbar.cpp
index f17654653b..d422b3c214 100644
--- a/src/msw/taskbar.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/taskbar.cpp
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ bool wxTaskBarIcon::PopupMenu(wxMenu *menu) //, int x, int y);
     wxGetMousePosition(&x, &y);
 
     // is wxFrame the best window type to use???
-    win = new wxFrame(NULL, -1, "", wxPoint(x,y), wxSize(-1,-1), 0);
+    win = new wxFrame(NULL, -1, wxEmptyString, wxPoint(x,y), wxSize(-1,-1), 0);
     win->PushEventHandler(this);
 
     // Remove from record of top-level windows, or will confuse wxWindows
diff --git a/src/msw/utils.cpp b/src/msw/utils.cpp
index 047ef9a22e..4556f6fa97 100644
--- a/src/msw/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/utils.cpp
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ bool wxGetFullHostName(wxChar *buf, int maxSize)
 
                 if ( pHostEnt )
                 {
-                    host = pHostEnt->h_name;
+                    host = wxString::FromAscii(pHostEnt->h_name);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/msw/volume.cpp b/src/msw/volume.cpp
index e1b4db737d..6f4ada640d 100644
--- a/src/msw/volume.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/volume.cpp
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ wxArrayString wxFSVolume::GetVolumes(int flagsSet, int flagsUnset)
     {
 #ifdef UNICODE
         s_pWNetOpenEnum = (WNetOpenEnumPtr)s_mprLib.GetSymbol(_T("WNetOpenEnumW"));
-        s_pWNetEnumResource = (WNetEnumResourcePtr)s_mprLib.GetSymbol("WNetEnumResourceW");
+        s_pWNetEnumResource = (WNetEnumResourcePtr)s_mprLib.GetSymbol(_T("WNetEnumResourceW"));
 #else
         s_pWNetOpenEnum = (WNetOpenEnumPtr)s_mprLib.GetSymbol(_T("WNetOpenEnumA"));
         s_pWNetEnumResource = (WNetEnumResourcePtr)s_mprLib.GetSymbol(_T("WNetEnumResourceA"));