diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 84aa3008..d1bb8bb2 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ dnl Version not hardcoded here. Fetched later from ares_version.h
 AC_INIT([c-ares], [-],
   [c-ares mailing list: http://cool.haxx.se/mailman/listinfo/c-ares])
 
+XC_OVR_ZZ40
 XC_OVR_ZZ50
 XC_OVR_ZZ60
 CARES_OVERRIDE_AUTOCONF
@@ -20,8 +21,6 @@ CARES_CHECK_OPTION_WERROR
 CARES_CHECK_OPTION_CURLDEBUG
 CARES_CHECK_OPTION_SYMBOL_HIDING
 
-CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR_REQUIRED
-
 dnl SED is mandatory for configure process and libtool.
 dnl Set it now, allowing it to be changed later.
 AC_PATH_PROG([SED], [sed], [not_found],
diff --git a/m4/cares-override.m4 b/m4/cares-override.m4
index 524a9269..c7400fc9 100644
--- a/m4/cares-override.m4
+++ b/m4/cares-override.m4
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #***************************************************************************
 
 # File version for 'aclocal' use. Keep it a single number.
-# serial 7
+# serial 8
 
 dnl CARES_OVERRIDE_AUTOCONF
 dnl -------------------------------------------------
@@ -74,18 +74,3 @@ choke me
 #endif
 ], [return $1 ();])])
 
-dnl Override Autoconf's PATH_SEPARATOR check
-dnl -------------------------------------------------
-dnl This is done to ensure that the same check is
-dnl used across different Autoconf versions and to
-dnl allow us to use this macro early enough in the
-dnl configure script.
-
-m4_defun([_AS_PATH_SEPARATOR_PREPARE],
-[CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR
-m4_define([$0],[])])
-
-m4_defun([_LT_AC_LIBTOOL_SYS_PATH_SEPARATOR],
-[CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR
-m4_define([$0],[])])
-
diff --git a/m4/cares-system.m4 b/m4/cares-system.m4
deleted file mode 100644
index f0adc897..00000000
--- a/m4/cares-system.m4
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,83 +0,0 @@
-#***************************************************************************
-# $Id$
-#
-# Copyright (C) 2008 - 2009 by Daniel Stenberg et al
-#
-# Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
-# documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided
-# that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that
-# copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting
-# documentation, and that the name of M.I.T. not be used in advertising or
-# publicity pertaining to distribution of the software without specific,
-# written prior permission.  M.I.T. makes no representations about the
-# suitability of this software for any purpose.  It is provided "as is"
-# without express or implied warranty.
-#
-#***************************************************************************
-
-# File version for 'aclocal' use. Keep it a single number.
-# serial 3
-
-
-dnl CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR
-dnl -------------------------------------------------
-dnl Check and compute the path separator for us. This
-dnl path separator is the symbol used to diferentiate
-dnl or separate paths inside the PATH environment var.
-
-AC_DEFUN([CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR], [
-  if test -z "$cares_cv_PATH_SEPARATOR"; then
-    if test -z "$PATH"; then
-      AC_MSG_ERROR([PATH not set. Cannot continue without PATH being set.])
-    fi
-    dnl Directory count in PATH when using a colon separator.
-    tst_dirs_col=0
-    tst_save_IFS=$IFS; IFS=':'
-    for tst_dir in $PATH; do
-      IFS=$tst_save_IFS
-      test -d "$tst_dir" && tst_dirs_col=`expr $tst_dirs_col + 1`
-    done
-    IFS=$tst_save_IFS
-    dnl Directory count in PATH when using a semicolon separator.
-    tst_dirs_sem=0
-    tst_save_IFS=$IFS; IFS=';'
-    for tst_dir in $PATH; do
-      IFS=$tst_save_IFS
-      test -d "$tst_dir" && tst_dirs_sem=`expr $tst_dirs_sem + 1`
-    done
-    IFS=$tst_save_IFS
-    if test $tst_dirs_sem -eq $tst_dirs_col; then
-      dnl When both counting methods give the same result we do not want to
-      dnl chose one over the other, and consider auto-detection not possible.
-      if test -z "$PATH_SEPARATOR"; then
-        dnl Stop dead until user provides PATH_SEPARATOR definition.
-        AC_MSG_ERROR([PATH_SEPARATOR not set. Cannot continue without it.])
-      fi
-    else
-      dnl Separator with the greater directory count is the auto-detected one.
-      if test $tst_dirs_sem -gt $tst_dirs_col; then
-        tst_auto_separator=';'
-      else
-        tst_auto_separator=':'
-      fi
-      if test -z "$PATH_SEPARATOR"; then
-        dnl Simply use the auto-detected one when not already set.
-        PATH_SEPARATOR="$tst_auto_separator"
-      fi
-    fi
-    cares_cv_PATH_SEPARATOR="$PATH_SEPARATOR"
-  fi
-  AC_SUBST([PATH_SEPARATOR])
-  AC_SUBST([PATH])
-])
-
-
-dnl CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR_REQUIRED
-dnl -------------------------------------------------
-dnl Use this to ensure that the path separator check
-dnl macro is only expanded and included once.
-
-AC_DEFUN([CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR_REQUIRED], [
-  AC_REQUIRE([CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR])dnl
-])
-