When i compile the tutorials i get file sizes that are 4x bigger than the exe''s that are in the .zip does this happen to anyone else? i am using VC++ 6.0 Standard

Make sure your in RElease mode.

how do you get into release mode?

click on Build, then on Set Active Configuration. Select Win32 Release.

thank you

I suspect the reason might be that NeHe is using the MSVC Profesional or MSVC Enterprise editions that do some extra optimisations over the standard edition (it''s a scandle IMO - however) which would mean you''ll get slightly larger executables

no, thats not it
i switched to release mode and the file sizes became the same