You might have less frustration and a much easier time simply using python. Heck, on the python website front page there is a "quick link" on the left that goes direct to a windows installer which works fine, isn't a large download (it's rather small in size compared to UFO:AI), and simply letting it use the default install options all the way through the short installation process works fine. After installing it, simply clicking on the compile.py file in windows explorer will do the trick.
I don't see where this desire to avoid python is coming from - yikes, you coders make it sound like using python for the maps is some big deal, like a long, complicated, and painful process to set up when it really isn't. Sorry, I'm not trying to pick on you guys, but grabbing the python installer, running it, and clicking on the compile file to me is very short, simple, and sounds much easier than trying these other methods. Geez...
EDIT: I've also never had the python method give me errors or headaches (in fact it worked the first time), unlike the first time I tried to compile the main game, learn what SVN is, or set up any of the development tools needed to build the game.
Heck, this:
I use it slightly differently - I renamed Makefile.win to Makefile, and copied it to the UFO:AI root. Then I edited it so the paths make sense again. I did this because this way I can just hit make.exe without any arguments (it will assume the existence of Makefile and attempt to execute rule "all"). This shouldn't be necessary, though. "make -f Makefile.win" when executed in the maps dir should do precisely the same thing. If it fails to build the maps, try posting the entire output here.
...sounds much more complicated and difficult to me (a non-coder) than:
1) Go to python progamming website.
2) Download windows installer from "quick links" on left of the front page (It's well marked and conspicuous).
3) Run installer with default choices (nothing fancy, lengthy, or vague, very easy to do!).
4) After install, use standard good old windows explorer to go to the maps folder.
5) Open the compile.py file.
6) Sit back and relax as maps start compiling and updating as needed, unattended.
Yes, the python method is really
that easy!