diff --git a/win/build-deps.cmd b/win/build-deps.cmd
index 976c03480a..7ab70aa37b 100644
--- a/win/build-deps.cmd
+++ b/win/build-deps.cmd
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
 
 :: Make sure vcvarsall.bat is called and dev env set is up.
 IF "%VSINSTALLDIR%"=="" (
-   utils\cecho {0C}Visual Studio environment variables not set - cannot proceed!{# #}{\n}
+   call utils\cecho.cmd 0 12 "Visual Studio environment variables not set - cannot proceed!"
    GOTO :Error
 )
 
 set PROJECT_NAME=IfcOpenShell
 
-utils\cecho {F0}This script fetches and builds all %PROJECT_NAME% dependencies{# #}{\n}
+call utils\cecho.cmd 15 0 "This script fetches and builds all %PROJECT_NAME% dependencies"
 echo.
 
 :: Set up variables depending on the used Visual Studio version
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@ IF NOT %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO :Error
 set BUILD_TYPE=%3
 
 IF %GENERATOR%=="" (
-   cecho {0C}GENERATOR not specified - cannot proceed!{# #}{\n}
+   call cecho.cmd 0 12 "GENERATOR not specified - cannot proceed!"
    GOTO :Error
 )
 
 IF "%BUILD_TYPE%"=="" set BUILD_TYPE=Build
 
 IF NOT "!BUILD_TYPE!"=="Build" IF NOT "!BUILD_TYPE!"=="Rebuild" IF NOT "!BUILD_TYPE!"=="Clean" (
-    utils\cecho {0C}Invalid build type passed: !BUILD_TYPE!. Cannot proceed, aborting!{# #}{\n}
+    call utils\cecho.cmd 0 12 "Invalid build type passed: !BUILD_TYPE!. Cannot proceed, aborting!"
     GOTO :Error
 )
 
@@ -68,63 +68,64 @@ IF %VS_VER%==2008 set PATH=C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5;%PATH%
 :: User-configurable build options
 IF "%IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON%"=="" set IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON=TRUE
 IF "%IFCOS_USE_PYTHON2%"=="" set IFCOS_USE_PYTHON2=FALSE
-IF "%IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCESSES%"=="" set IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCESSES=%NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS%
+IF "%IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCS%"=="" set IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCS=%NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS%
 
 :: For subroutines
-set MSBUILD_CMD=MSBuild.exe /nologo /m:%IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCESSES% /t:%BUILD_TYPE%
+set MSBUILD_CMD=MSBuild.exe /nologo /m:%IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCS% /t:%BUILD_TYPE%
 REM /clp:ErrorsOnly;WarningsOnly
 :: Note BUILD_TYPE not passed, Clean e.g. wouldn't delete the installed files.
-set INSTALL_CMD=MSBuild.exe /nologo /m:%IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCESSES%
+set INSTALL_CMD=MSBuild.exe /nologo /m:%IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCS%
 set BUILD_DIR=build-vs%VS_VER%-%TARGET_ARCH%
 
 REM echo.
-REM cecho {F0}This script fetches and builds all %PROJECT_NAME% dependencies{# #}{\n}
+REM call cecho.cmd 0 15 "This script fetches and builds all %PROJECT_NAME% dependencies"
 
 :: Print build configuration information
 echo.
-cecho {0A}Script configuration:{# #}{\n}
-cecho {0D}  CMake Generator           = %GENERATOR%{# #}{\n}
-echo    - Passed to CMake -G option.
-cecho {0D}  Target Architecture       = %TARGET_ARCH%{# #}{\n}
-echo    - Whether were doing 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) build.
-cecho {0D}  Dependency Directory      = %DEPS_DIR%{# #}{\n}
-echo    - The directory where %PROJECT_NAME% dependencies are fetched and built.
-cecho {0D}  Installation Directory    = %INSTALL_DIR%{# #}{\n}
-echo    - The directory where %PROJECT_NAME% dependencies are installed.
-cecho {0D}  Build Config Type         = %BUILD_CFG%{# #}{\n}
-echo    - The used build configuration type for the dependencies.
+
+call cecho.cmd 0 10 "Script configuration:"
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "* CMake Generator`t= '`"%GENERATOR_DEFAULT%`'`t
+echo   - Passed to CMake -G option.
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "* Target Architecture`t= %TARGET_ARCH%"
+echo   - Whether were doing 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) build.
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "* Dependency Directory`t= %DEPS_DIR%"
+echo   - The directory where %PROJECT_NAME% dependencies are fetched and built.
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "* Installation Directory = %INSTALL_DIR%"
+echo   - The directory where %PROJECT_NAME% dependencies are installed.
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "* Build Config Type`t= %BUILD_CFG%"
+echo   - The used build configuration type for the dependencies.
 echo      Defaults to RelWithDebInfo if not specified.
-IF %BUILD_CFG%==MinSizeRel cecho {0E}     WARNING: MinSizeRel build can suffer from a significant performance loss.{# #}{\n}
-cecho {0D}  Build Type                = %BUILD_TYPE%{# #}{\n}
-echo    - The used build type for the dependencies (Build, Rebuild, Clean).
+IF %BUILD_CFG%==MinSizeRel call cecho.cmd 0 14 "     WARNING: MinSizeRel build can suffer from a significant performance loss."
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "* Build Type`t`t= %BUILD_TYPE%"
+echo   - The used build type for the dependencies (Build, Rebuild, Clean).
 echo      Defaults to Build if not specified. Rebuild/Clean also uninstalls Python (if it was installed by this script).
-cecho {0D}  IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON      = %IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON%{# #}{\n}
-echo    - Download and install Python.
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "* IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON`t= %IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON%"
+echo   - Download and install Python.
 echo      Set to something other than TRUE if you wish to use an already installed version of Python.
-cecho {0D}  IFCOS_USE_PYTHON2         = %IFCOS_USE_PYTHON2%{# #}{\n}
-echo    - Use Python 2 instead of 3.
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "* IFCOS_USE_PYTHON2`t= %IFCOS_USE_PYTHON2%"
+echo   - Use Python 2 instead of 3.
 echo      Set to TRUE if you wish to use Python 2 instead of 3. Has no effect if IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON is not TRUE.
-cecho {0D}  IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCESSES = %IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCESSES%{# #}{\n}
-echo    - How many MSBuild.exe processes may be run in parallel.
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "* IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCS`t= %IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCS%"
+echo   - How many MSBuild.exe processes may be run in parallel.
 echo      Defaults to NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS.
 echo.
 
 :: Print script's usage information
-cecho {0A}Requirements for a successful execution:{# #}{\n}
-echo    1. Install PowerShell (preinstalled in Windows ^>= 7) and make sure 'powershell' is accessible from PATH.
-echo     - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/968929
-echo    2. Install Git and make sure 'git' is accessible from PATH.
-echo     - http://code.google.com/p/tortoisegit/
-echo    3. Install CMake and make sure 'cmake' is accessible from PATH.
-echo     - http://www.cmake.org/
-echo    4. Visual Studio 2008 or newer (2013 or newer recommended).
-echo     - http://www.cmake.org/
-echo    5. Run this batch script with Visual Studio environment variables set.
-echo     - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms229859(v=vs.110).aspx
+call cecho.cmd 0 10 "Requirements for a successful execution:"
+echo  1. Install PowerShell (preinstalled in Windows ^>= 7) and make sure 'powershell' is accessible from PATH.
+echo   - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/968929
+echo  2. Install Git and make sure 'git' is accessible from PATH.
+echo   - http://code.google.com/p/tortoisegit/
+echo  3. Install CMake and make sure 'cmake' is accessible from PATH.
+echo   - http://www.cmake.org/
+echo  4. Visual Studio 2008 or newer (2013 or newer recommended).
+echo   - https://www.visualstudio.com/
+echo  5. Run this batch script with Visual Studio environment variables set.
+echo   - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms229859(v=vs.110).aspx
 echo.
 REM TODO 3ds Max SDK?
 
-cecho {0E}Warning: You will need roughly 8 GB of disk space to proceed (VS 2015 x64 RelWithDebInfo).{# #}{\n}
+call cecho.cmd 0 14 "Warning: You will need roughly 8 GB of disk space to proceed `(VS 2015 x64 RelWithDebInfo`)."
 echo.
 
 echo If you are not ready with the above, press Ctrl-C to abort!
@@ -150,6 +151,7 @@ set ZIP_EXT=7z
 set BOOST_ZIP=boost_%BOOST_VER%.%ZIP_EXT%
 
 call :DownloadFile http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/boost/boost/%BOOST_VERSION%/%BOOST_ZIP% "%DEPS_DIR%" %BOOST_ZIP%
+
 IF NOT %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO :Error
 call :ExtractArchive %BOOST_ZIP% "%DEPS_DIR%" "%DEPS_DIR%\boost"
 IF NOT %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO :Error
@@ -160,7 +162,7 @@ IF EXIST "%DEPS_DIR%\boost_%BOOST_VER%". (
     ren boost_%BOOST_VER% boost
     IF NOT EXIST "%DEPS_DIR%\boost\boost.css" GOTO :Error
     cd "%DEPS_DIR%\boost"
-    cecho {0D}Building Boost build script.{# #}{\n}
+    call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Building Boost build script."
     call bootstrap vc%VC_VER%
     IF NOT %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO :Error
 )
@@ -168,9 +170,9 @@ IF EXIST "%DEPS_DIR%\boost_%BOOST_VER%". (
 set BOOST_LIBS=--with-system --with-regex --with-thread --with-program_options --with-date_time
 :: NOTE Boost is fast to build with limited set of libraries so build it always.
 cd "%DEPS_DIR%\boost"
-cecho {0D}Building %DEPENDENCY_NAME% %BOOST_LIBS% Please be patient, this will take a while.{# #}{\n}
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Building %DEPENDENCY_NAME% %BOOST_LIBS% Please be patient, this will take a while."
 IF EXIST "%DEPS_DIR%\boost\bin.v2\project-cache.jam" del "%DEPS_DIR%\boost\bin.v2\project-cache.jam"
-call .\b2 toolset=msvc-%VC_VER%.0 runtime-link=static address-model=%ARCH_BITS% -j%IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCESSES% ^
+call .\b2 toolset=msvc-%VC_VER%.0 runtime-link=static address-model=%ARCH_BITS% -j%IFCOS_NUM_BUILD_PROCS% ^
     variant=%DEBUG_OR_RELEASE_LOWERCASE% %BOOST_LIBS% stage --stagedir=stage/vs%VS_VER%-%VS_PLATFORM% 
 IF NOT %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO :Error
 
@@ -301,18 +303,18 @@ IF "%IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON%"=="TRUE" (
     IF NOT %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO :Error
     REM Uninstall if build Rebuild/Clean used
     IF NOT %BUILD_TYPE%==Build (
-        cecho {0D}Uninstalling %DEPENDENCY_NAME%. Please be patient, this will take a while.{# #}{\n}
+        call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Uninstalling %DEPENDENCY_NAME%. Please be patient, this will take a while."
         msiexec /x %PYTHON_INSTALLER% /qn
     )
 
     IF NOT EXIST "%PYTHONPATH%". (
-        cecho {0D}Installing %DEPENDENCY_NAME%. Please be patient, this will take a while.{# #}{\n}
+        call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Installing %DEPENDENCY_NAME%. Please be patient, this will take a while."
         msiexec /qn /i %PYTHON_INSTALLER% TARGETDIR="%PYTHONPATH%"
     ) ELSE (
-        cecho {0D}%DEPENDENCY_NAME% already installed. Skipping.{# #}{\n}
+        call cecho.cmd 0 13 "%DEPENDENCY_NAME% already installed. Skipping."
     )
 ) ELSE (
-    cecho {0D}IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON not true, skipping installation of Python.{# #}{\n}
+    call cecho.cmd 0 13 "IFCOS_INSTALL_PYTHON not true, skipping installation of Python."
 )
 
 :SWIG
@@ -334,12 +336,12 @@ IF EXIST "%DEPS_DIR%\swigwin\". robocopy "%DEPS_DIR%\swigwin" "%INSTALL_DIR%\swi
 
 :Successful
 echo.
-%TOOLS%\utils\cecho {0A}%PROJECT_NAME% dependencies built.{# #}{\n}
+call %TOOLS%\utils\cecho.cmd 0 10 "%PROJECT_NAME% dependencies built."
 goto :Finish
 
 :Error
 echo.
-%TOOLS%\utils\cecho {0C}An error occurred! Aborting!{# #}{\n}
+call %TOOLS%\utils\cecho.cmd 0 12 "An error occurred! Aborting!"
 goto :Finish
 
 :Finish
@@ -355,11 +357,11 @@ goto :EOF
 :DownloadFile
 pushd %2
 IF NOT EXIST "%3". (
-    cecho {0D}Downloading %DEPENDENCY_NAME% into %2.{# #}{\n}
+    call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Downloading %DEPENDENCY_NAME% into %2."
     powershell -Command "$webClient = new-object System.Net.WebClient; $webClient.DownloadFile('%1', '%3')"
     REM Old wget version in case someone has problem with PowerShell: wget --no-check-certificate %1
 ) ELSE (
-    cecho {0D}%DEPENDENCY_NAME% already downloaded. Skipping.{# #}{\n}
+    call cecho.cmd 0 13 "%DEPENDENCY_NAME% already downloaded. Skipping."
 )
 set RET=%ERRORLEVEL%
 popd
@@ -369,10 +371,10 @@ exit /b %RET%
 :: Params: %1 filename, %2 destinationDir, %3 dirAfterExtraction
 :ExtractArchive
 IF NOT EXIST "%3". (
-    cecho {0D}Extracting %DEPENDENCY_NAME% into %2.{# #}{\n}
+    call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Extracting %DEPENDENCY_NAME% into %2."
     7za x %1 -y -o%2
 ) ELSE (
-    cecho {0D}%DEPENDENCY_NAME% already extracted into %3. Skipping.{# #}{\n}
+    call cecho.cmd 0 13 "%DEPENDENCY_NAME% already extracted into %3. Skipping."
 )
 exit /b %ERRORLEVEL%
 
@@ -381,11 +383,11 @@ exit /b %ERRORLEVEL%
 :: F.ex. call :GitCloneRepository https://github.com/KhronosGroup/OpenCOLLADA.git "%DEPS_DIR%\OpenCOLLADA\"
 :GitCloneOrPullRepository
 IF NOT EXIST %2. (
-    cecho {0D}Cloning %DEPENDENCY_NAME% into %2.{# #}{\n}
+    call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Cloning %DEPENDENCY_NAME% into %2."
     pushd "%DEPS_DIR%"
     call git clone %1 %2
 ) ELSE (
-    cecho {0D}%DEPENDENCY_NAME% already cloned. Pulling latest changes.{# #}{\n}
+    call cecho.cmd 0 13 "%DEPENDENCY_NAME% already cloned. Pulling latest changes."
     pushd %2
     call git pull
 )
@@ -397,7 +399,7 @@ exit /b %RET%
 :: Params: %* cmakeOptions
 :: NOTE cd to root CMakeLists.txt folder before calling this if the CMakeLists.txt is not in the repo root.
 :RunCMake
-cecho {0D}Running CMake for %DEPENDENCY_NAME%.{# #}{\n}
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Running CMake for %DEPENDENCY_NAME%."
 IF NOT EXIST %BUILD_DIR%. mkdir %BUILD_DIR%
 IF NOT %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO :Error
 pushd %BUILD_DIR%
@@ -412,7 +414,7 @@ exit /b %RET%
 :: BuildSolution - Builds/Rebuilds/Cleans a solution using MSBuild
 :: Params: %1 solutioName, %2 configuration
 :BuildSolution
-cecho {0D}%BUILD_TYPE%ing %2 %DEPENDENCY_NAME%. Please be patient, this will take a while.{# #}{\n}
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "%BUILD_TYPE%ing %2 %DEPENDENCY_NAME%. Please be patient, this will take a while."
 %MSBUILD_CMD% %1 /p:configuration=%2;platform=%VS_PLATFORM%
 exit /b %ERRORLEVEL%
 
@@ -421,7 +423,7 @@ exit /b %ERRORLEVEL%
 :: NOTE the actual install dir is set during cmake run.
 :InstallCMakeProject
 pushd %1
-cecho {0D}Installing %2 %DEPENDENCY_NAME%. Please be patient, this will take a while.{# #}{\n}
+call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Installing %2 %DEPENDENCY_NAME%. Please be patient, this will take a while."
 %INSTALL_CMD% INSTALL.%VCPROJ_FILE_EXT% /p:configuration=%2;platform=%VS_PLATFORM%
 set RET=%ERRORLEVEL%
 popd
diff --git a/win/run-cmake.bat b/win/run-cmake.bat
index 8ee76982b2..80518dab05 100644
--- a/win/run-cmake.bat
+++ b/win/run-cmake.bat
@@ -56,11 +56,11 @@ set PATH=%PATH%;%SWIG_DIR%;%PYTHONPATH%
 :: TODO 3ds Max SDK?
 
 echo.
-cecho {0A}Script configuration:{# #}{\n}
+call cecho.cmd 0 10 "Script configuration:"
 echo   CMake Generator = %GENERATOR%
 echo   All arguments   = %*
 echo.
-cecho {0A}Dependency Environment Variables for %PROJECT_NAME%:{# #}{\n}
+call cecho.cmd 0 10 "Dependency Environment Variables for %PROJECT_NAME%:"
 echo    BOOST_ROOT              = %BOOST_ROOT%
 REM echo    BOOST_INCLUDEDIR = %BOOST_INCLUDEDIR%
 echo    BOOST_LIBRARYDIR        = %BOOST_LIBRARYDIR%
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ echo.
 set CMAKELISTS_DIR=..\cmake
 REM IF NOT EXIST %PROJECT_NAME%.sln. (
     IF EXIST CMakeCache.txt. del /Q CMakeCache.txt
-    cecho {0D}Running CMake for %PROJECT_NAME%.{# #}{\n}
+    call cecho.cmd 0 13 "Running CMake for %PROJECT_NAME%."
     IF "%2"=="" (
         REM No extra arguments provided, trust that GENERATOR is set properly.
         cmake.exe %CMAKELISTS_DIR% -G %GENERATOR% -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="%CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX%"
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ REM IF NOT EXIST %PROJECT_NAME%.sln. (
     )
     IF NOT %ERRORLEVEL%==0 GOTO :Error
 REM ) ELSE (
-    REM cecho {0A}%PROJECT_NAME%.sln exists. Skipping CMake call for %PROJECT_NAME%.{# #}{\n}
-    REM cecho {0A}Delete %CD%\%PROJECT_NAME%.sln to trigger a CMake rerun.{# #}{\n}
+    REM call cecho.cmd 0 10 "%PROJECT_NAME%.sln exists. Skipping CMake call for %PROJECT_NAME%."
+    REM call cecho.cmd 0 10 "Delete %BUILD_DIR%\%PROJECT_NAME%.sln to trigger a CMake rerun."
 REM )
 echo.
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ goto :Finish
 
 :Error
 echo.
-cecho {0C}An error occurred! Aborting!{# #}{\n}
+cecho {0C}An error occurred! Aborting!"
 goto :Finish
 
 :Finish
diff --git a/win/utils/cecho test.bat b/win/utils/cecho test.bat
deleted file mode 100644
index 0d872e2d30..0000000000
--- a/win/utils/cecho test.bat	
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,65 +0,0 @@
-@echo off
-
-
-::
-:: cecho by thomas_polaert@yahoo.fr
-::
-echo cecho by thomas_polaert@yahoo.fr
-
-cecho
-
-cecho {00}00 - black{\n}
-cecho {01}01 - navy{\n}
-cecho {02}02 - green{\n}
-cecho {03}03 - teal{\n}
-cecho {04}04 - maroon{\n}
-cecho {05}05 - purple{\n}
-cecho {06}06 - olive{\n}
-cecho {07}07 - silver{\n}
-cecho {08}08 - gray{\n}
-cecho {09}09 - blue{\n}
-cecho {0A}0A - lime{\n}
-cecho {0B}0B - aqua{\n}
-cecho {0C}0C - red{\n}
-cecho {0D}0D - fuchisa{\n}
-cecho {0E}0E - yellow{\n}
-cecho {0F}0F - white{\n}
-
-echo.
-
-cecho {00}00 {10}10 {20}20 {30}30 {40}40 {50}50 {60}60 {70}70 {80}80 {90}90 {A0}A0 {B0}B0 {C0}80 {D0}90 {E0}A0 {F0}B0{\n}
-cecho {01}01 {11}11 {21}21 {31}31 {41}41 {51}51 {61}61 {71}71 {81}81 {91}91 {A1}A1 {B1}B1 {C1}81 {D1}91 {E1}A1 {F1}B1{\n}
-cecho {02}02 {12}12 {22}22 {32}32 {42}42 {52}52 {62}62 {72}72 {82}82 {92}92 {A2}A2 {B2}B2 {C2}82 {D2}92 {E2}A2 {F2}B2{\n}
-cecho {03}03 {13}13 {23}23 {33}33 {43}43 {53}53 {63}63 {73}73 {83}83 {93}93 {A3}A3 {B3}B3 {C3}83 {D3}93 {E3}A3 {F3}B3{\n}
-cecho {04}04 {14}14 {24}24 {34}34 {44}44 {54}54 {64}64 {74}74 {84}84 {94}94 {A4}A4 {B4}B4 {C4}84 {D4}94 {E4}A4 {F4}B4{\n}
-cecho {05}05 {15}15 {25}25 {35}35 {45}45 {55}55 {65}65 {75}75 {85}85 {95}95 {A5}A5 {B5}B5 {C5}85 {D5}95 {E5}A5 {F5}B5{\n}
-cecho {06}06 {16}16 {26}26 {36}36 {46}46 {56}56 {66}66 {76}76 {86}86 {96}96 {A6}A6 {B6}B6 {C6}86 {D6}96 {E6}A6 {F6}B6{\n}
-cecho {07}07 {17}17 {27}27 {37}37 {47}47 {57}57 {67}67 {77}77 {87}87 {97}97 {A7}A7 {B7}B7 {C7}87 {D7}97 {E7}A7 {F7}B7{\n}
-cecho {08}08 {18}18 {28}28 {38}38 {48}48 {58}58 {68}68 {78}78 {88}88 {98}98 {A8}A8 {B8}B8 {C8}88 {D8}98 {E8}A8 {F8}B8{\n}
-cecho {09}09 {19}19 {29}29 {39}39 {49}49 {59}59 {69}69 {79}79 {89}89 {99}99 {A9}A9 {B9}B9 {C9}89 {D9}99 {E9}A9 {F9}B9{\n}
-cecho {0A}0A {1A}1A {2A}2A {3A}3A {4A}4A {5A}5A {6A}6A {7A}7A {8A}8A {9A}9A {AA}AA {BA}BA {CA}8A {DA}9A {EA}AA {FA}BA{\n}
-cecho {0B}0B {1B}1B {2B}2B {3B}3B {4B}4B {5B}5B {6B}6B {7B}7B {8B}8B {9B}9B {AB}AB {BB}BB {CB}8B {DB}9B {EB}AB {FB}BB{\n}
-cecho {0C}0C {1C}1C {2C}2C {3C}3C {4C}4C {5C}5C {6C}6C {7C}7C {8C}8C {9C}9C {AC}AC {BC}BC {CC}8C {DC}9C {EC}AC {FC}BC{\n}
-cecho {0D}0D {1D}1D {2D}2D {3D}3D {4D}4D {5D}5D {6D}6D {7D}7D {8D}8D {9D}9D {AD}AD {BD}BD {CD}8D {DD}9D {ED}AD {FD}BD{\n}
-cecho {0E}0E {1E}1E {2E}2E {3E}3E {4E}4E {5E}5E {6E}6E {7E}7E {8E}8E {9E}9E {AE}AE {BE}BE {CE}8E {DE}9E {EE}AE {FE}BE{\n}
-cecho {0F}0F {1F}1F {2F}2F {3F}3F {4F}4F {5F}5F {6F}6F {7F}7F {8F}8F {9F}9F {AF}AF {BF}BF {CF}8F {DF}9F {EF}AF {FF}BF{\n}
-
-echo.
-
-cecho {silver}
-cecho {\uDA}
-cecho Escape charater {{
-echo.
-cecho {\u07 \u07}beep x2
-echo.
-cecho {\t}line #1{\n\t}line #2{\n\t}line #3
-echo.
-cecho {green}print green {default} and back to initial color
-echo.
-cecho {a red foreground on a white background}a red foreground on a white background {# #} and back to initial colors
-echo.
-cecho {blue gray}blue gray
-echo.
-cecho {purple yellow}purple yellow{\n silver}
-
-pause
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/win/utils/cecho.cmd b/win/utils/cecho.cmd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2923fcb986
--- /dev/null
+++ b/win/utils/cecho.cmd
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+:: Usage: call cecho.cmd background foreground "message here"
+:: NOTES/TODOS 1) This is super slow 2) leading spaces are omitted 3) printing string with quotes doesn't work (quotes must be escaped awkwardly)
+@powershell -command write-host -background %~1 -foreground "%~2" "%3"
+@exit /b
diff --git a/win/utils/cecho.exe b/win/utils/cecho.exe
deleted file mode 100644
index 9f310e5dc8..0000000000
Binary files a/win/utils/cecho.exe and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/win/utils/cecho.txt b/win/utils/cecho.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index cdc61b2ffe..0000000000
--- a/win/utils/cecho.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-cecho is from http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/17033/Add-Colors-to-Batch-Files
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/win/vs-cfg.cmd b/win/vs-cfg.cmd
index dbf2f405bd..88b025eed0 100644
--- a/win/vs-cfg.cmd
+++ b/win/vs-cfg.cmd
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ set GENERATOR_DEFAULT=%GENERATOR_VS2015_64%
 
 IF "!GENERATOR!"=="" (
     set GENERATOR=%GENERATOR_DEFAULT%
-    utils\cecho {0E}vs-cfg.cmd: Warning: Generator not passed - using the default %GENERATOR_DEFAULT%.{# #}{\n}
+    call utils\cecho.cmd 0 14 "vs-cfg.cmd: Warning: Generator not passed - using the default '`"%GENERATOR_DEFAULT%`'`t
 )
 
 IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2008_32% IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2008_64% (
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2010_32% IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2010_
 IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2012_32% IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2012_64% (
 IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2013_32% IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2013_64% (
 IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2015_32% IF NOT !GENERATOR!==%GENERATOR_VS2015_64% (
-    utils\cecho {0C}vs-cfg.cmd: Invalid or unsupported CMake generator string passed: !GENERATOR!. Cannot proceed, aborting!{# #}{\n}
-    GOTO :EOF
+    call utils\cecho.cmd 0 12 "vs-cfg.cmd: Invalid or unsupported CMake generator string passed: '`"!GENERATOR!`'". Cannot proceed, aborting!"
+    exit /b 1
 )))))
 
 :: Figure out the build configuration from the CMake generator string.
@@ -120,11 +120,11 @@ set BUILD_CFG_DEFAULT=%BUILD_CFG_RELWITHDEBINFO%
 
 IF "!BUILD_CFG!"=="" (
     set BUILD_CFG=%BUILD_CFG_DEFAULT%
-    utils\cecho {0E}vs-cfg.cmd: Warning: BUILD_CFG not specified - using the default %BUILD_CFG_DEFAULT%{# #}{\n}
+    call utils\cecho.cmd 0 14 "vs-cfg.cmd: Warning: BUILD_CFG not specified - using the default %BUILD_CFG_DEFAULT%"
 )
 IF NOT !BUILD_CFG!==%BUILD_CFG_MINSIZEREL% IF NOT !BUILD_CFG!==%BUILD_CFG_RELEASE% (
 IF NOT !BUILD_CFG!==%BUILD_CFG_RELWITHDEBINFO% IF NOT !BUILD_CFG!==%BUILD_CFG_DEBUG% (
-    utils\cecho {0C}vs-cfg.cmd: Invalid or unsupported CMake build configuration type passed: !BUILD_CFG!. Cannot proceed, aborting!{# #}{\n}
+    call utils\cecho.cmd 0 12 "vs-cfg.cmd: Invalid or unsupported CMake build configuration type passed: !BUILD_CFG!. Cannot proceed, aborting!"
     exit /b 1
 ))
 
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ IF %BUILD_CFG%==Debug (
 :: Populate path variables
 cd ..\
 set ORIGINAL_PATH=%PATH%
-set PATH=%PATH%;"%CD%\win\utils"
+set PATH=%PATH%;%CD%\win\utils
 
 :: Fetch and build the dependencies to a dedicated directory depending on the used VS version and target architecture.
 :: NOTE For IfcOpenShell we can build all of our deps both x86 and x64 using different VS versions in the same directories