diff --git a/string/obsolete/nsString.h b/string/obsolete/nsString.h
index 40024b58fa4..df7da3cbb42 100644
--- a/string/obsolete/nsString.h
+++ b/string/obsolete/nsString.h
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
     4. Subsumable strings
  ***********************************************************************/
 
+#ifndef NEW_STRING_APIS
+//#define NEW_STRING_APIS 1
+#endif //NEW_STRING_APIS
 
 #ifndef _nsCString_
 #define _nsCString_
diff --git a/string/obsolete/nsString2.cpp b/string/obsolete/nsString2.cpp
index ab155aa18bb..954f0f8d008 100644
--- a/string/obsolete/nsString2.cpp
+++ b/string/obsolete/nsString2.cpp
@@ -2286,6 +2286,15 @@ nsAutoString::nsAutoString(const PRUnichar* aString,PRInt32 aLength) : nsString(
   Append(aString,aLength);
 }
 
+nsAutoString::nsAutoString( const nsString& aString )
+  : nsString()
+{
+  Initialize(*this, mBuffer, (sizeof(mBuffer)>>eTwoByte)-1, 0, eTwoByte, PR_FALSE);
+  AddNullTerminator(*this);
+  Append(aString);
+}
+
+
 /**
  * constructor that uses external buffer
  * @param   aBuffer describes the external buffer
diff --git a/string/obsolete/nsString2.h b/string/obsolete/nsString2.h
index 835d808bfb2..e586a9f0d8b 100644
--- a/string/obsolete/nsString2.h
+++ b/string/obsolete/nsString2.h
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@
     4. Subsumable strings
  ***********************************************************************/
 
+#ifndef NEW_STRING_APIS
+//#define NEW_STRING_APIS 1
+#endif //NEW_STRING_APIS
+
 
 #ifndef _nsString_
 #define _nsString_
@@ -898,6 +902,7 @@ public:
     virtual ~nsAutoString();
     nsAutoString();
     nsAutoString(const nsAutoString& aString);
+    nsAutoString(const nsString& aString);
     nsAutoString(const PRUnichar* aString,PRInt32 aLength=-1);
     nsAutoString(PRUnichar aChar);
     nsAutoString(const CBufDescriptor& aBuffer);    
diff --git a/string/public/nsAReadableString.h b/string/public/nsAReadableString.h
index 211cbe8f37e..15a98c9cf2f 100644
--- a/string/public/nsAReadableString.h
+++ b/string/public/nsAReadableString.h
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ template <class CharT>
 PRUint32
 basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>::CountChar( CharT c ) const
   {
-#if 1
+#if 0
     return PRUint32(count(BeginReading(), EndReading(), c));
 #else
     PRUint32 result = 0;
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ inline
 int
 basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>::Compare( const CharT* rhs ) const
   {
-    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs)));
+    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(const basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>&, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs)));
   }
 
 template <class CharT>
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ inline
 int
 basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>::Compare( const CharT* rhs, PRUint32 rhs_length ) const
   {
-    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs, rhs_length)));
+    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(const basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>&, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs, rhs_length)));
   }
 
 
diff --git a/string/public/nsCharTraits.h b/string/public/nsCharTraits.h
index e52103dbbf1..c5ee480dc72 100644
--- a/string/public/nsCharTraits.h
+++ b/string/public/nsCharTraits.h
@@ -487,6 +487,8 @@ struct nsCharSourceTraits
       }
   };
 
+#ifdef HAVE_CPP_PARTIAL_SPECIALIZATION
+
 template <class CharT>
 struct nsCharSourceTraits<CharT*>
   {
@@ -513,6 +515,37 @@ struct nsCharSourceTraits<CharT*>
       }
   };
 
+#else
+
+NS_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE
+struct nsCharSourceTraits<const char*>
+  {
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    readable_size( const char* s )
+      {
+        return PRUint32(nsCharTraits<char>::length(s));
+//      return numeric_limits<PRUint32>::max();
+      }
+
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    readable_size( const char* first, const char* last )
+      {
+        return PRUint32(last-first);
+      }
+
+    static
+    const char*
+    read( const char* s )
+      {
+        return s;
+      }
+ };
+
+// Add specialization for |PRUnichar| only if it is needed
+
+#endif
 
 
 template <class OutputIterator>
@@ -526,6 +559,8 @@ struct nsCharSinkTraits
       }
   };
 
+#ifdef HAVE_CPP_PARTIAL_SPECIALIZATION
+
 template <class CharT>
 struct nsCharSinkTraits<CharT*>
   {
@@ -539,5 +574,34 @@ struct nsCharSinkTraits<CharT*>
       }
   };
 
+#else
+
+NS_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE
+struct nsCharSinkTraits<char*>
+  {
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    write( char*& iter, const char* s, PRUint32 n )
+      {
+        nsCharTraits<char>::copy(iter, s, n);
+        iter += n;
+        return n;
+      }
+  };
+
+NS_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE
+struct nsCharSinkTraits<PRUnichar*>
+  {
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    write( PRUnichar*& iter, const PRUnichar* s, PRUint32 n )
+      {
+        nsCharTraits<PRUnichar>::copy(iter, s, n);
+        iter += n;
+        return n;
+      }
+  };
+
+#endif
 
 #endif // !defined(_nsCharTraits_h__)
diff --git a/xpcom/base/nscore.h b/xpcom/base/nscore.h
index 58a25a49dc5..e451ef4f0de 100644
--- a/xpcom/base/nscore.h
+++ b/xpcom/base/nscore.h
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ typedef PRUint16 PRUnichar;
   /* under Metrowerks (Mac), we don't have autoconf yet */
 #ifdef __MWERKS__
   #define HAVE_CPP_SPECIALIZATION
+  #define HAVE_CPP_PARTIAL_SPECIALIZATION
   #define HAVE_CPP_MODERN_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE_SYNTAX
 
   #define HAVE_ACCESS_CHANGING_CPP_USING
diff --git a/xpcom/ds/nsAReadableString.h b/xpcom/ds/nsAReadableString.h
index 211cbe8f37e..15a98c9cf2f 100644
--- a/xpcom/ds/nsAReadableString.h
+++ b/xpcom/ds/nsAReadableString.h
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ template <class CharT>
 PRUint32
 basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>::CountChar( CharT c ) const
   {
-#if 1
+#if 0
     return PRUint32(count(BeginReading(), EndReading(), c));
 #else
     PRUint32 result = 0;
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ inline
 int
 basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>::Compare( const CharT* rhs ) const
   {
-    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs)));
+    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(const basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>&, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs)));
   }
 
 template <class CharT>
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ inline
 int
 basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>::Compare( const CharT* rhs, PRUint32 rhs_length ) const
   {
-    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs, rhs_length)));
+    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(const basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>&, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs, rhs_length)));
   }
 
 
diff --git a/xpcom/ds/nsCharTraits.h b/xpcom/ds/nsCharTraits.h
index e52103dbbf1..c5ee480dc72 100644
--- a/xpcom/ds/nsCharTraits.h
+++ b/xpcom/ds/nsCharTraits.h
@@ -487,6 +487,8 @@ struct nsCharSourceTraits
       }
   };
 
+#ifdef HAVE_CPP_PARTIAL_SPECIALIZATION
+
 template <class CharT>
 struct nsCharSourceTraits<CharT*>
   {
@@ -513,6 +515,37 @@ struct nsCharSourceTraits<CharT*>
       }
   };
 
+#else
+
+NS_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE
+struct nsCharSourceTraits<const char*>
+  {
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    readable_size( const char* s )
+      {
+        return PRUint32(nsCharTraits<char>::length(s));
+//      return numeric_limits<PRUint32>::max();
+      }
+
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    readable_size( const char* first, const char* last )
+      {
+        return PRUint32(last-first);
+      }
+
+    static
+    const char*
+    read( const char* s )
+      {
+        return s;
+      }
+ };
+
+// Add specialization for |PRUnichar| only if it is needed
+
+#endif
 
 
 template <class OutputIterator>
@@ -526,6 +559,8 @@ struct nsCharSinkTraits
       }
   };
 
+#ifdef HAVE_CPP_PARTIAL_SPECIALIZATION
+
 template <class CharT>
 struct nsCharSinkTraits<CharT*>
   {
@@ -539,5 +574,34 @@ struct nsCharSinkTraits<CharT*>
       }
   };
 
+#else
+
+NS_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE
+struct nsCharSinkTraits<char*>
+  {
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    write( char*& iter, const char* s, PRUint32 n )
+      {
+        nsCharTraits<char>::copy(iter, s, n);
+        iter += n;
+        return n;
+      }
+  };
+
+NS_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE
+struct nsCharSinkTraits<PRUnichar*>
+  {
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    write( PRUnichar*& iter, const PRUnichar* s, PRUint32 n )
+      {
+        nsCharTraits<PRUnichar>::copy(iter, s, n);
+        iter += n;
+        return n;
+      }
+  };
+
+#endif
 
 #endif // !defined(_nsCharTraits_h__)
diff --git a/xpcom/ds/nsString.h b/xpcom/ds/nsString.h
index 40024b58fa4..df7da3cbb42 100644
--- a/xpcom/ds/nsString.h
+++ b/xpcom/ds/nsString.h
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
     4. Subsumable strings
  ***********************************************************************/
 
+#ifndef NEW_STRING_APIS
+//#define NEW_STRING_APIS 1
+#endif //NEW_STRING_APIS
 
 #ifndef _nsCString_
 #define _nsCString_
diff --git a/xpcom/ds/nsString2.cpp b/xpcom/ds/nsString2.cpp
index ab155aa18bb..954f0f8d008 100644
--- a/xpcom/ds/nsString2.cpp
+++ b/xpcom/ds/nsString2.cpp
@@ -2286,6 +2286,15 @@ nsAutoString::nsAutoString(const PRUnichar* aString,PRInt32 aLength) : nsString(
   Append(aString,aLength);
 }
 
+nsAutoString::nsAutoString( const nsString& aString )
+  : nsString()
+{
+  Initialize(*this, mBuffer, (sizeof(mBuffer)>>eTwoByte)-1, 0, eTwoByte, PR_FALSE);
+  AddNullTerminator(*this);
+  Append(aString);
+}
+
+
 /**
  * constructor that uses external buffer
  * @param   aBuffer describes the external buffer
diff --git a/xpcom/ds/nsString2.h b/xpcom/ds/nsString2.h
index 835d808bfb2..e586a9f0d8b 100644
--- a/xpcom/ds/nsString2.h
+++ b/xpcom/ds/nsString2.h
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@
     4. Subsumable strings
  ***********************************************************************/
 
+#ifndef NEW_STRING_APIS
+//#define NEW_STRING_APIS 1
+#endif //NEW_STRING_APIS
+
 
 #ifndef _nsString_
 #define _nsString_
@@ -898,6 +902,7 @@ public:
     virtual ~nsAutoString();
     nsAutoString();
     nsAutoString(const nsAutoString& aString);
+    nsAutoString(const nsString& aString);
     nsAutoString(const PRUnichar* aString,PRInt32 aLength=-1);
     nsAutoString(PRUnichar aChar);
     nsAutoString(const CBufDescriptor& aBuffer);    
diff --git a/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString.h b/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString.h
index 40024b58fa4..df7da3cbb42 100644
--- a/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString.h
+++ b/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString.h
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
     4. Subsumable strings
  ***********************************************************************/
 
+#ifndef NEW_STRING_APIS
+//#define NEW_STRING_APIS 1
+#endif //NEW_STRING_APIS
 
 #ifndef _nsCString_
 #define _nsCString_
diff --git a/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString2.cpp b/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString2.cpp
index ab155aa18bb..954f0f8d008 100644
--- a/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString2.cpp
+++ b/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString2.cpp
@@ -2286,6 +2286,15 @@ nsAutoString::nsAutoString(const PRUnichar* aString,PRInt32 aLength) : nsString(
   Append(aString,aLength);
 }
 
+nsAutoString::nsAutoString( const nsString& aString )
+  : nsString()
+{
+  Initialize(*this, mBuffer, (sizeof(mBuffer)>>eTwoByte)-1, 0, eTwoByte, PR_FALSE);
+  AddNullTerminator(*this);
+  Append(aString);
+}
+
+
 /**
  * constructor that uses external buffer
  * @param   aBuffer describes the external buffer
diff --git a/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString2.h b/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString2.h
index 835d808bfb2..e586a9f0d8b 100644
--- a/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString2.h
+++ b/xpcom/string/obsolete/nsString2.h
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@
     4. Subsumable strings
  ***********************************************************************/
 
+#ifndef NEW_STRING_APIS
+//#define NEW_STRING_APIS 1
+#endif //NEW_STRING_APIS
+
 
 #ifndef _nsString_
 #define _nsString_
@@ -898,6 +902,7 @@ public:
     virtual ~nsAutoString();
     nsAutoString();
     nsAutoString(const nsAutoString& aString);
+    nsAutoString(const nsString& aString);
     nsAutoString(const PRUnichar* aString,PRInt32 aLength=-1);
     nsAutoString(PRUnichar aChar);
     nsAutoString(const CBufDescriptor& aBuffer);    
diff --git a/xpcom/string/public/nsAReadableString.h b/xpcom/string/public/nsAReadableString.h
index 211cbe8f37e..15a98c9cf2f 100644
--- a/xpcom/string/public/nsAReadableString.h
+++ b/xpcom/string/public/nsAReadableString.h
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ template <class CharT>
 PRUint32
 basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>::CountChar( CharT c ) const
   {
-#if 1
+#if 0
     return PRUint32(count(BeginReading(), EndReading(), c));
 #else
     PRUint32 result = 0;
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ inline
 int
 basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>::Compare( const CharT* rhs ) const
   {
-    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs)));
+    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(const basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>&, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs)));
   }
 
 template <class CharT>
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ inline
 int
 basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>::Compare( const CharT* rhs, PRUint32 rhs_length ) const
   {
-    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs, rhs_length)));
+    return ::Compare(*this, NS_STATIC_CAST(const basic_nsAReadableString<CharT>&, basic_nsLiteralString<CharT>(rhs, rhs_length)));
   }
 
 
diff --git a/xpcom/string/public/nsCharTraits.h b/xpcom/string/public/nsCharTraits.h
index e52103dbbf1..c5ee480dc72 100644
--- a/xpcom/string/public/nsCharTraits.h
+++ b/xpcom/string/public/nsCharTraits.h
@@ -487,6 +487,8 @@ struct nsCharSourceTraits
       }
   };
 
+#ifdef HAVE_CPP_PARTIAL_SPECIALIZATION
+
 template <class CharT>
 struct nsCharSourceTraits<CharT*>
   {
@@ -513,6 +515,37 @@ struct nsCharSourceTraits<CharT*>
       }
   };
 
+#else
+
+NS_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE
+struct nsCharSourceTraits<const char*>
+  {
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    readable_size( const char* s )
+      {
+        return PRUint32(nsCharTraits<char>::length(s));
+//      return numeric_limits<PRUint32>::max();
+      }
+
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    readable_size( const char* first, const char* last )
+      {
+        return PRUint32(last-first);
+      }
+
+    static
+    const char*
+    read( const char* s )
+      {
+        return s;
+      }
+ };
+
+// Add specialization for |PRUnichar| only if it is needed
+
+#endif
 
 
 template <class OutputIterator>
@@ -526,6 +559,8 @@ struct nsCharSinkTraits
       }
   };
 
+#ifdef HAVE_CPP_PARTIAL_SPECIALIZATION
+
 template <class CharT>
 struct nsCharSinkTraits<CharT*>
   {
@@ -539,5 +574,34 @@ struct nsCharSinkTraits<CharT*>
       }
   };
 
+#else
+
+NS_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE
+struct nsCharSinkTraits<char*>
+  {
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    write( char*& iter, const char* s, PRUint32 n )
+      {
+        nsCharTraits<char>::copy(iter, s, n);
+        iter += n;
+        return n;
+      }
+  };
+
+NS_SPECIALIZE_TEMPLATE
+struct nsCharSinkTraits<PRUnichar*>
+  {
+    static
+    PRUint32
+    write( PRUnichar*& iter, const PRUnichar* s, PRUint32 n )
+      {
+        nsCharTraits<PRUnichar>::copy(iter, s, n);
+        iter += n;
+        return n;
+      }
+  };
+
+#endif
 
 #endif // !defined(_nsCharTraits_h__)
diff --git a/xpcom/tests/PropertiesTest.cpp b/xpcom/tests/PropertiesTest.cpp
index fa7636a80c5..9a85b705333 100644
--- a/xpcom/tests/PropertiesTest.cpp
+++ b/xpcom/tests/PropertiesTest.cpp
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@ main(int argc, char* argv[])
     char name[16];
     name[0] = 0;
     sprintf(name, "%d", i);
-    nsAutoString v("");
-    ret = props->GetStringProperty(name, v);
+    nsAutoString v;
+    ret = props->GetStringProperty(NS_ConvertASCIItoUCS2(name), v);
     if (NS_FAILED(ret) || (!v.Length())) {
       break;
     }
diff --git a/xpcom/tests/StringFactoringTests/makefile.win b/xpcom/tests/StringFactoringTests/makefile.win
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..60e63ca1e56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xpcom/tests/StringFactoringTests/makefile.win
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+#!nmake
+#
+# The contents of this file are subject to the Netscape Public
+# License Version 1.1 (the "License"); you may not use this file
+# except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of
+# the License at http://www.mozilla.org/NPL/
+#
+# Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS
+# IS" basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or
+# implied. See the License for the specific language governing
+# rights and limitations under the License.
+#
+# The Original Code is mozilla.org code.
+#
+# The Initial Developer of the Original Code is Netscape
+# Communications Corporation.  Portions created by Netscape are
+# Copyright (C) 1998 Netscape Communications Corporation. All
+# Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Contributor(s): 
+
+DEPTH=..\..\..
+
+MAKE_OBJ_TYPE   = EXE
+PROGRAM = .\$(OBJDIR)\test_main.exe
+
+OBJS =  \
+	.\$(OBJDIR)\test_main.obj		\
+	.\$(OBJDIR)\nsString2.obj		\
+	.\$(OBJDIR)\nsStr.obj		\
+	.\$(OBJDIR)\nsString.obj		\
+	.\$(OBJDIR)\nsCRT.obj		\
+	.\$(OBJDIR)\nsAllocator.obj		\
+	.\$(OBJDIR)\nsDeque.obj		\
+	$(NULL)
+
+CPPSRCS =				\
+	test_main.cpp			\
+	$(DEPTH)\xpcom\nsString2.cpp \
+	$(DEPTH)\xpcom\ds\nsStr.cpp \
+	$(DEPTH)\xpcom\ds\nsString.cpp \
+	$(DEPTH)\xpcom\ds\nsCRT.cpp \
+	$(DEPTH)\xpcom\ds\nsAllocator.cpp \
+	$(DEPTH)\xpcom\ds\nsDeque.cpp \
+	$(NULL)
+
+LCFLAGS = \
+        -DNEW_STRING_APIS -DSTANDALONE_STRING_TESTS -DNDEBUG -GX\
+        $(DEFINES) \
+        $(NULL)
+
+LINCS=-I$(PUBLIC)\xpcom	\
+	-I$(MOZ_TOOLS)\include	\
+	$(NULL)
+
+include <$(DEPTH)\config\rules.mak>
+
+export:: $(PROGRAM)
+	$(MAKE_INSTALL) $(PROGRAM) $(DIST)\bin
+
+clobber::
+	rm -f $(DIST)\bin\test_main.exe
+
+$(PROGRAM):: $(OBJS) $(MYLIBS)
diff --git a/xpcom/tests/StringFactoringTests/test_main.cpp b/xpcom/tests/StringFactoringTests/test_main.cpp
index 55c89dbe27e..f653507fef6 100644
--- a/xpcom/tests/StringFactoringTests/test_main.cpp
+++ b/xpcom/tests/StringFactoringTests/test_main.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include <iostream.h>
 
-#define TEST_STD_STRING
+//#define TEST_STD_STRING
 
 
 #include "nsString.h"
diff --git a/xpcom/tests/TestAtoms.cpp b/xpcom/tests/TestAtoms.cpp
index 3a865745905..0aa11bde836 100644
--- a/xpcom/tests/TestAtoms.cpp
+++ b/xpcom/tests/TestAtoms.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
     if (nsnull == s) {
       break;
     }
-    nsAutoString sb(buf);
+    nsAutoString sb;
+    sb.AssignWithConversion(buf);
     strings[count++] = sb.ToNewUnicode();
     sb.ToUpperCase();
     strings[count++] = sb.ToNewUnicode();
diff --git a/xpcom/tests/TestCRT.cpp b/xpcom/tests/TestCRT.cpp
index ff5b86e3757..d366b15c3c1 100644
Binary files a/xpcom/tests/TestCRT.cpp and b/xpcom/tests/TestCRT.cpp differ
diff --git a/xpcom/tests/TestObserverService.cpp b/xpcom/tests/TestObserverService.cpp
index 92d26f7f095..8e1b4c251e3 100644
--- a/xpcom/tests/TestObserverService.cpp
+++ b/xpcom/tests/TestObserverService.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ extern ostream &operator<<( ostream &s, nsString &str ) {
 
 class TestObserver : public nsIObserver, public nsSupportsWeakReference {
 public:
-    TestObserver( const nsString &name = "unknown" )
+    TestObserver( const nsString &name = NS_ConvertASCIItoUCS2("unknown") )
         : mName( name ) {
         NS_INIT_REFCNT();
     }
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ TestObserver::Observe( nsISupports     *aSubject,
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    nsString topicA( "topic-A" );
-    nsString topicB( "topic-B" );
+    nsString topicA; topicA.AssignWithConversion( "topic-A" );
+    nsString topicB; topicB.AssignWithConversion( "topic-B" );
     nsresult rv;
 
     nsresult res = nsComponentManager::CreateInstance(NS_OBSERVERSERVICE_PROGID,
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if (res == NS_OK) {
 
         nsIObserver *anObserver;
-        nsIObserver *aObserver = new TestObserver("Observer-A");
+        nsIObserver *aObserver = new TestObserver(NS_ConvertASCIItoUCS2("Observer-A"));
         aObserver->AddRef();
-        nsIObserver *bObserver = new TestObserver("Observer-B");
+        nsIObserver *bObserver = new TestObserver(NS_ConvertASCIItoUCS2("Observer-B"));
         bObserver->AddRef();
             
         cout << "Adding Observer-A as observer of topic-A..." << endl;
@@ -114,13 +114,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         cout << "Testing Notify(observer-A, topic-A)..." << endl;
         rv = anObserverService->Notify( aObserver,
                                    topicA.GetUnicode(),
-                                   nsString("Testing Notify(observer-A, topic-A)").GetUnicode() );
+                                   NS_ConvertASCIItoUCS2("Testing Notify(observer-A, topic-A)").GetUnicode() );
         testResult(rv);
 
         cout << "Testing Notify(observer-B, topic-B)..." << endl;
         rv = anObserverService->Notify( bObserver,
                                    topicB.GetUnicode(),
-                                   nsString("Testing Notify(observer-B, topic-B)").GetUnicode() );
+                                   NS_ConvertASCIItoUCS2("Testing Notify(observer-B, topic-B)").GetUnicode() );
         testResult(rv);
  
         cout << "Testing EnumerateObserverList (for topic-A)..." << endl;
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                   rv = inst->QueryInterface(NS_GET_IID(nsIObserver),(void**)&anObserver);
                   cout << "Calling observe on enumerated observer "
                         << NS_REINTERPRET_CAST(TestObserver*, NS_REINTERPRET_CAST(void*, inst))->mName << "..." << endl;
-                  rv = anObserver->Observe( inst, topicA.GetUnicode(), nsString("during enumeration").GetUnicode() );
+                  rv = anObserver->Observe( inst, topicA.GetUnicode(), NS_ConvertASCIItoUCS2("during enumeration").GetUnicode() );
                   testResult(rv);
                 }
             }