diff --git a/Lib/distutils/filelist.py b/Lib/distutils/filelist.py
index 91220321a4b..db3f7a96802 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/filelist.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/filelist.py
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ class FileList:
 
         Return True if files are found, False otherwise.
         """
+        # XXX docstring lying about what the special chars are?
         files_found = False
         pattern_re = translate_pattern(pattern, anchor, prefix, is_regex)
         self.debug_print("include_pattern: applying regex r'%s'" %
@@ -284,11 +285,14 @@ def glob_to_re(pattern):
     # IMHO is wrong -- '?' and '*' aren't supposed to match slash in Unix,
     # and by extension they shouldn't match such "special characters" under
     # any OS.  So change all non-escaped dots in the RE to match any
-    # character except the special characters.
-    # XXX currently the "special characters" are just slash -- i.e. this is
-    # Unix-only.
-    pattern_re = re.sub(r'((?<!\\)(\\\\)*)\.', r'\1[^/]', pattern_re)
-
+    # character except the special characters (currently: just os.sep).
+    sep = os.sep
+    if os.sep == '\\':
+        # we're using a regex to manipulate a regex, so we need
+        # to escape the backslash twice
+        sep = r'\\\\'
+    escaped = r'\1[^%s]' % sep
+    pattern_re = re.sub(r'((?<!\\)(\\\\)*)\.', escaped, pattern_re)
     return pattern_re
 
 
@@ -312,9 +316,11 @@ def translate_pattern(pattern, anchor=1, prefix=None, is_regex=0):
     if prefix is not None:
         # ditch end of pattern character
         empty_pattern = glob_to_re('')
-        prefix_re = (glob_to_re(prefix))[:-len(empty_pattern)]
-        # paths should always use / in manifest templates
-        pattern_re = "^%s/.*%s" % (prefix_re, pattern_re)
+        prefix_re = glob_to_re(prefix)[:-len(empty_pattern)]
+        sep = os.sep
+        if os.sep == '\\':
+            sep = r'\\'
+        pattern_re = "^" + sep.join((prefix_re, ".*" + pattern_re))
     else:                               # no prefix -- respect anchor flag
         if anchor:
             pattern_re = "^" + pattern_re
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_filelist.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_filelist.py
index f3304b2e336..e82bc3d2ed7 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_filelist.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_filelist.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """Tests for distutils.filelist."""
+import os
 import re
 import unittest
 from distutils import debug
@@ -9,6 +10,26 @@ from distutils.filelist import glob_to_re, translate_pattern, FileList
 from test.support import captured_stdout, run_unittest
 from distutils.tests import support
 
+MANIFEST_IN = """\
+include ok
+include xo
+exclude xo
+include foo.tmp
+include buildout.cfg
+global-include *.x
+global-include *.txt
+global-exclude *.tmp
+recursive-include f *.oo
+recursive-exclude global *.x
+graft dir
+prune dir3
+"""
+
+
+def make_local_path(s):
+    """Converts '/' in a string to os.sep"""
+    return s.replace('/', os.sep)
+
 
 class FileListTestCase(support.LoggingSilencer,
                        unittest.TestCase):
@@ -22,16 +43,62 @@ class FileListTestCase(support.LoggingSilencer,
         self.clear_logs()
 
     def test_glob_to_re(self):
-        # simple cases
-        self.assertEqual(glob_to_re('foo*'), 'foo[^/]*\\Z(?ms)')
-        self.assertEqual(glob_to_re('foo?'), 'foo[^/]\\Z(?ms)')
-        self.assertEqual(glob_to_re('foo??'), 'foo[^/][^/]\\Z(?ms)')
+        sep = os.sep
+        if os.sep == '\\':
+            sep = re.escape(os.sep)
 
-        # special cases
-        self.assertEqual(glob_to_re(r'foo\\*'), r'foo\\\\[^/]*\Z(?ms)')
-        self.assertEqual(glob_to_re(r'foo\\\*'), r'foo\\\\\\[^/]*\Z(?ms)')
-        self.assertEqual(glob_to_re('foo????'), r'foo[^/][^/][^/][^/]\Z(?ms)')
-        self.assertEqual(glob_to_re(r'foo\\??'), r'foo\\\\[^/][^/]\Z(?ms)')
+        for glob, regex in (
+            # simple cases
+            ('foo*', r'foo[^%(sep)s]*\Z(?ms)'),
+            ('foo?', r'foo[^%(sep)s]\Z(?ms)'),
+            ('foo??', r'foo[^%(sep)s][^%(sep)s]\Z(?ms)'),
+            # special cases
+            (r'foo\\*', r'foo\\\\[^%(sep)s]*\Z(?ms)'),
+            (r'foo\\\*', r'foo\\\\\\[^%(sep)s]*\Z(?ms)'),
+            ('foo????', r'foo[^%(sep)s][^%(sep)s][^%(sep)s][^%(sep)s]\Z(?ms)'),
+            (r'foo\\??', r'foo\\\\[^%(sep)s][^%(sep)s]\Z(?ms)')):
+            regex = regex % {'sep': sep}
+            self.assertEqual(glob_to_re(glob), regex)
+
+    def test_process_template_line(self):
+        # testing  all MANIFEST.in template patterns
+        file_list = FileList()
+        l = make_local_path
+
+        # simulated file list
+        file_list.allfiles = ['foo.tmp', 'ok', 'xo', 'four.txt',
+                              'buildout.cfg',
+                              # filelist does not filter out VCS directories,
+                              # it's sdist that does
+                              l('.hg/last-message.txt'),
+                              l('global/one.txt'),
+                              l('global/two.txt'),
+                              l('global/files.x'),
+                              l('global/here.tmp'),
+                              l('f/o/f.oo'),
+                              l('dir/graft-one'),
+                              l('dir/dir2/graft2'),
+                              l('dir3/ok'),
+                              l('dir3/sub/ok.txt'),
+                             ]
+
+        for line in MANIFEST_IN.split('\n'):
+            if line.strip() == '':
+                continue
+            file_list.process_template_line(line)
+
+        wanted = ['ok',
+                  'buildout.cfg',
+                  'four.txt',
+                  l('.hg/last-message.txt'),
+                  l('global/one.txt'),
+                  l('global/two.txt'),
+                  l('f/o/f.oo'),
+                  l('dir/graft-one'),
+                  l('dir/dir2/graft2'),
+                 ]
+
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, wanted)
 
     def test_debug_print(self):
         file_list = FileList()
@@ -117,6 +184,7 @@ class FileListTestCase(support.LoggingSilencer,
         self.assertEqual(file_list.allfiles, ['a.py', 'b.txt'])
 
     def test_process_template(self):
+        l = make_local_path
         # invalid lines
         file_list = FileList()
         for action in ('include', 'exclude', 'global-include',
@@ -127,7 +195,7 @@ class FileListTestCase(support.LoggingSilencer,
 
         # include
         file_list = FileList()
-        file_list.set_allfiles(['a.py', 'b.txt', 'd/c.py'])
+        file_list.set_allfiles(['a.py', 'b.txt', l('d/c.py')])
 
         file_list.process_template_line('include *.py')
         self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py'])
@@ -139,31 +207,31 @@ class FileListTestCase(support.LoggingSilencer,
 
         # exclude
         file_list = FileList()
-        file_list.files = ['a.py', 'b.txt', 'd/c.py']
+        file_list.files = ['a.py', 'b.txt', l('d/c.py')]
 
         file_list.process_template_line('exclude *.py')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['b.txt', 'd/c.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['b.txt', l('d/c.py')])
         self.assertNoWarnings()
 
         file_list.process_template_line('exclude *.rb')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['b.txt', 'd/c.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['b.txt', l('d/c.py')])
         self.assertWarnings()
 
         # global-include
         file_list = FileList()
-        file_list.set_allfiles(['a.py', 'b.txt', 'd/c.py'])
+        file_list.set_allfiles(['a.py', 'b.txt', l('d/c.py')])
 
         file_list.process_template_line('global-include *.py')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', 'd/c.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', l('d/c.py')])
         self.assertNoWarnings()
 
         file_list.process_template_line('global-include *.rb')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', 'd/c.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', l('d/c.py')])
         self.assertWarnings()
 
         # global-exclude
         file_list = FileList()
-        file_list.files = ['a.py', 'b.txt', 'd/c.py']
+        file_list.files = ['a.py', 'b.txt', l('d/c.py')]
 
         file_list.process_template_line('global-exclude *.py')
         self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['b.txt'])
@@ -175,50 +243,52 @@ class FileListTestCase(support.LoggingSilencer,
 
         # recursive-include
         file_list = FileList()
-        file_list.set_allfiles(['a.py', 'd/b.py', 'd/c.txt', 'd/d/e.py'])
+        file_list.set_allfiles(['a.py', l('d/b.py'), l('d/c.txt'),
+                                l('d/d/e.py')])
 
         file_list.process_template_line('recursive-include d *.py')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['d/b.py', 'd/d/e.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, [l('d/b.py'), l('d/d/e.py')])
         self.assertNoWarnings()
 
         file_list.process_template_line('recursive-include e *.py')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['d/b.py', 'd/d/e.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, [l('d/b.py'), l('d/d/e.py')])
         self.assertWarnings()
 
         # recursive-exclude
         file_list = FileList()
-        file_list.files = ['a.py', 'd/b.py', 'd/c.txt', 'd/d/e.py']
+        file_list.files = ['a.py', l('d/b.py'), l('d/c.txt'), l('d/d/e.py')]
 
         file_list.process_template_line('recursive-exclude d *.py')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', 'd/c.txt'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', l('d/c.txt')])
         self.assertNoWarnings()
 
         file_list.process_template_line('recursive-exclude e *.py')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', 'd/c.txt'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', l('d/c.txt')])
         self.assertWarnings()
 
         # graft
         file_list = FileList()
-        file_list.set_allfiles(['a.py', 'd/b.py', 'd/d/e.py', 'f/f.py'])
+        file_list.set_allfiles(['a.py', l('d/b.py'), l('d/d/e.py'),
+                                l('f/f.py')])
 
         file_list.process_template_line('graft d')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['d/b.py', 'd/d/e.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, [l('d/b.py'), l('d/d/e.py')])
         self.assertNoWarnings()
 
         file_list.process_template_line('graft e')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['d/b.py', 'd/d/e.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, [l('d/b.py'), l('d/d/e.py')])
         self.assertWarnings()
 
         # prune
         file_list = FileList()
-        file_list.files = ['a.py', 'd/b.py', 'd/d/e.py', 'f/f.py']
+        file_list.files = ['a.py', l('d/b.py'), l('d/d/e.py'), l('f/f.py')]
 
         file_list.process_template_line('prune d')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', 'f/f.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', l('f/f.py')])
         self.assertNoWarnings()
 
         file_list.process_template_line('prune e')
-        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', 'f/f.py'])
+        self.assertEqual(file_list.files, ['a.py', l('f/f.py')])
         self.assertWarnings()
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_sdist.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_sdist.py
index d0d16b2f550..fd71dac8d6e 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_sdist.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_sdist.py
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ import zipfile
 from os.path import join
 from textwrap import dedent
 
+try:
+    import zlib
+    ZLIB_SUPPORT = True
+except ImportError:
+    ZLIB_SUPPORT = False
+
 from test.support import captured_stdout, check_warnings, run_unittest
 
 from distutils.command.sdist import sdist, show_formats
@@ -28,6 +34,7 @@ setup(name='fake')
 MANIFEST = """\
 # file GENERATED by distutils, do NOT edit
 README
+buildout.cfg
 inroot.txt
 setup.py
 data%(sep)sdata.dt
@@ -39,13 +46,6 @@ somecode%(sep)sdoc.dat
 somecode%(sep)sdoc.txt
 """
 
-try:
-    import zlib
-    ZLIB_SUPPORT = True
-except ImportError:
-    ZLIB_SUPPORT = False
-
-
 class SDistTestCase(PyPIRCCommandTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ class SDistTestCase(PyPIRCCommandTestCase):
         dist_folder = join(self.tmp_dir, 'dist')
         result = os.listdir(dist_folder)
         result.sort()
-        self.assertEqual(result, ['fake-1.0.tar', 'fake-1.0.tar.gz'] )
+        self.assertEqual(result, ['fake-1.0.tar', 'fake-1.0.tar.gz'])
 
         os.remove(join(dist_folder, 'fake-1.0.tar'))
         os.remove(join(dist_folder, 'fake-1.0.tar.gz'))
@@ -180,11 +180,18 @@ class SDistTestCase(PyPIRCCommandTestCase):
         self.write_file((data_dir, 'data.dt'), '#')
         some_dir = join(self.tmp_dir, 'some')
         os.mkdir(some_dir)
+        # make sure VCS directories are pruned (#14004)
+        hg_dir = join(self.tmp_dir, '.hg')
+        os.mkdir(hg_dir)
+        self.write_file((hg_dir, 'last-message.txt'), '#')
+        # a buggy regex used to prevent this from working on windows (#6884)
+        self.write_file((self.tmp_dir, 'buildout.cfg'), '#')
         self.write_file((self.tmp_dir, 'inroot.txt'), '#')
         self.write_file((some_dir, 'file.txt'), '#')
         self.write_file((some_dir, 'other_file.txt'), '#')
 
         dist.data_files = [('data', ['data/data.dt',
+                                     'buildout.cfg',
                                      'inroot.txt',
                                      'notexisting']),
                            'some/file.txt',
@@ -214,15 +221,15 @@ class SDistTestCase(PyPIRCCommandTestCase):
             zip_file.close()
 
         # making sure everything was added
-        self.assertEqual(len(content), 11)
+        self.assertEqual(len(content), 12)
 
         # checking the MANIFEST
         f = open(join(self.tmp_dir, 'MANIFEST'))
         try:
             manifest = f.read()
-            self.assertEqual(manifest, MANIFEST % {'sep': os.sep})
         finally:
             f.close()
+        self.assertEqual(manifest, MANIFEST % {'sep': os.sep})
 
     @unittest.skipUnless(ZLIB_SUPPORT, 'Need zlib support to run')
     def test_metadata_check_option(self):
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index e2523d0f7d9..329770f40cd 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -124,6 +124,9 @@ Core and Builtins
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #6884: Fix long-standing bugs with MANIFEST.in parsing in distutils
+  on Windows.
+
 - Issue #8033: sqlite3: Fix 64-bit integer handling in user functions
   on 32-bit architectures. Initial patch by Philippe Devalkeneer.