Where would I run the gcc - v command, from the CPAN shell or just the straight command line? Running from command line gives only:

Reading specs from C:\GNAT\lib\gcc-lib\pentium-mingw32msv\2.8.1\specs
gcc version 2.8.1
[download]

...which I suppose is the correct info about my gcc version, unless CPAN does something really strange.

Also, what makes you say my strawberry installation is bolloxed? I have little doubt that this is true, but I am curious as to what I could look for in the future to figure this out myself.

Cheers.