diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
index 9a03c1526..dba4272cd 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator.cxx
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ int cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator::TryCompile(const char *,
     {
     makeCommand += "ALL_BUILD";
     }
-  makeCommand += " - Debug\" /REBUILD";
+  makeCommand += " - Debug\"";
   
   int retVal;
   if (!cmSystemTools::RunCommand(makeCommand.c_str(), output, retVal))
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ int cmGlobalVisualStudio6Generator::TryCompile(const char *,
     return 1;
     }
   cmSystemTools::ChangeDirectory(cwd.c_str());
+  if (retVal)
+    {
+    cmSystemTools::Error("Generator: msdev returned a failure.");
+    }
   return retVal;
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmTryCompileCommand.cxx b/Source/cmTryCompileCommand.cxx
index e7fe9d1fb..8638dd907 100644
--- a/Source/cmTryCompileCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTryCompileCommand.cxx
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ bool cmTryCompileCommand::InitialPass(std::vector<std::string> const& argv)
     }
 
   // where will the binaries be stored
-  const char* binaryDirectory = argv[2].c_str();
-  const char* sourceDirectory = argv[1].c_str();
+  const char* binaryDirectory = argv[1].c_str();
+  const char* sourceDirectory = argv[2].c_str();
   const char* projectName = 0;
   const char* targetName = 0;
   std::string tmpString;
@@ -36,10 +36,13 @@ bool cmTryCompileCommand::InitialPass(std::vector<std::string> const& argv)
   // signature
   if (argv.size() == 3)
     {
-    tmpString = argv[2] + "/CMakeTmp";
+    tmpString = argv[1] + "/CMakeTmp";
     binaryDirectory = tmpString.c_str();
     }
   
+  // make sure the binary directory exists
+  cmSystemTools::MakeDirectory(binaryDirectory);
+  
   // do not allow recursive try Compiles
   if (!strcmp(binaryDirectory,m_Makefile->GetHomeOutputDirectory()))
     {
@@ -58,7 +61,6 @@ bool cmTryCompileCommand::InitialPass(std::vector<std::string> const& argv)
     // we need to create a directory and CMakeList file etc...
     // first create the directories
     sourceDirectory = binaryDirectory;
-    cmSystemTools::MakeDirectory(binaryDirectory);
 
     // now create a CMakeList.txt file in that directory
     std::string outFileName = tmpString + "/CMakeLists.txt";
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ bool cmTryCompileCommand::InitialPass(std::vector<std::string> const& argv)
       return false;
       }
     fprintf(fout,"PROJECT(CMAKE_TRY_COMPILE)\n");
-    fprintf(fout,"ADD_EXECUTABLE(cmTryCompileExec \"%s\")\n",argv[1].c_str());
+    fprintf(fout,"ADD_EXECUTABLE(cmTryCompileExec \"%s\")\n",argv[2].c_str());
     fclose(fout);
     projectName = "CMAKE_TRY_COMPILE";
     targetName = "cmTryCompileExec";
diff --git a/Source/cmTryCompileCommand.h b/Source/cmTryCompileCommand.h
index 047fb3c7f..8658ac845 100644
--- a/Source/cmTryCompileCommand.h
+++ b/Source/cmTryCompileCommand.h
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ public:
   virtual const char* GetFullDocumentation()
     {
     return
-      "TRY_COMPILE(RESULT_VAR srcdir bindir projectName <targetName>)\n"
+      "TRY_COMPILE(RESULT_VAR bindir srcdir projectName <targetName>)\n"
       "Try compiling a program. Return the success or failure in RESULT_VAR "
       "If <target name> is specified then build just that target "
       "otherwise the all or ALL_BUILD target is built.\n"
-      "TRY_COMPILE(RESULT_VAR srcfile bindir)\n"
+      "TRY_COMPILE(RESULT_VAR bindir srcfile)\n"
       "Try compiling a srcfile. Return the success or failure in RESULT_VAR.";
     }