diff --git a/.bazelrc b/.bazelrc
index 24676574e6..2545f30f80 100644
--- a/.bazelrc
+++ b/.bazelrc
@@ -41,3 +41,7 @@ common --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
 common --incompatible_no_implicit_file_export
 
 build --lockfile_mode=update
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
diff --git a/examples/build_file_generation/.bazelrc b/examples/build_file_generation/.bazelrc
index f1ae44fac8..e14ed7c9f6 100644
--- a/examples/build_file_generation/.bazelrc
+++ b/examples/build_file_generation/.bazelrc
@@ -8,3 +8,7 @@ build --enable_runfiles
 common --noenable_bzlmod
 common --enable_workspace
 common --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/bzlmod/.bazelrc b/examples/bzlmod/.bazelrc
index 28a44a7523..a18c7e2551 100644
--- a/examples/bzlmod/.bazelrc
+++ b/examples/bzlmod/.bazelrc
@@ -24,3 +24,7 @@ test --test_output=errors --enable_runfiles
 # Windows requires these for multi-python support:
 build --enable_runfiles
 common:bazel7.x --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/multi_python_versions/.bazelrc b/examples/multi_python_versions/.bazelrc
index 97a973bd85..39ed55aff4 100644
--- a/examples/multi_python_versions/.bazelrc
+++ b/examples/multi_python_versions/.bazelrc
@@ -5,3 +5,7 @@ build --enable_runfiles
 
 coverage --java_runtime_version=remotejdk_11
 common:bazel7.x --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/pip_parse/.bazelrc b/examples/pip_parse/.bazelrc
index f263a1744d..1bdae98af6 100644
--- a/examples/pip_parse/.bazelrc
+++ b/examples/pip_parse/.bazelrc
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 # https://docs.bazel.build/versions/main/best-practices.html#using-the-bazelrc-file
 try-import %workspace%/user.bazelrc
 common --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/pip_parse_vendored/.bazelrc b/examples/pip_parse_vendored/.bazelrc
index a6ea2d9138..e846b1ac11 100644
--- a/examples/pip_parse_vendored/.bazelrc
+++ b/examples/pip_parse_vendored/.bazelrc
@@ -8,3 +8,7 @@ build --enable_runfiles
 common --noenable_bzlmod
 common --enable_workspace
 common --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/pip_repository_annotations/.bazelrc b/examples/pip_repository_annotations/.bazelrc
index 9397bd31b8..82c7a1dbd2 100644
--- a/examples/pip_repository_annotations/.bazelrc
+++ b/examples/pip_repository_annotations/.bazelrc
@@ -7,3 +7,7 @@ common --noenable_bzlmod
 common --enable_workspace
 common --legacy_external_runfiles=false
 common --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/gazelle/.bazelrc b/gazelle/.bazelrc
index 9a38133e9d..0f46b5b584 100644
--- a/gazelle/.bazelrc
+++ b/gazelle/.bazelrc
@@ -16,3 +16,7 @@ build --@rules_python//python/config_settings:incompatible_default_to_explicit_i
 build --enable_runfiles
 
 common:bazel7.x --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/gazelle/examples/bzlmod_build_file_generation/.bazelrc b/gazelle/examples/bzlmod_build_file_generation/.bazelrc
index 31097b41de..5ab484ee67 100644
--- a/gazelle/examples/bzlmod_build_file_generation/.bazelrc
+++ b/gazelle/examples/bzlmod_build_file_generation/.bazelrc
@@ -14,3 +14,7 @@ common:bazel7.x --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
 # rules_python code. In the BCR presubmits, this override is removed
 # and the bazel_dep version of rules_python is used.
 common --override_module=rules_python=../../../
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/python/private/build_data_writer.ps1 b/python/private/build_data_writer.ps1
index db7a48e676..652f00057a 100644
--- a/python/private/build_data_writer.ps1
+++ b/python/private/build_data_writer.ps1
@@ -1,17 +1,24 @@
 $OutputPath = $env:OUTPUT
-
-Add-Content -Path $OutputPath -Value "TARGET $env:TARGET"
-Add-Content -Path $OutputPath -Value "CONFIG_MODE $env:CONFIG_MODE"
-Add-Content -Path $OutputPath -Value "STAMPED $env:STAMPED"
+$Lines = @(
+    "TARGET $env:TARGET",
+    "CONFIG_MODE $env:CONFIG_MODE",
+    "STAMPED $env:STAMPED"
+)
 
 $VersionFilePath = $env:VERSION_FILE
-if (-not [string]::IsNullOrEmpty($VersionFilePath)) {
-    Get-Content -Path $VersionFilePath | Add-Content -Path $OutputPath
+if (-not [string]::IsNullOrEmpty($VersionFilePath) -and (Test-Path $VersionFilePath)) {
+    $Lines += Get-Content -Path $VersionFilePath
 }
 
 $InfoFilePath = $env:INFO_FILE
-if (-not [string]::IsNullOrEmpty($InfoFilePath)) {
-    Get-Content -Path $InfoFilePath | Add-Content -Path $OutputPath
+if (-not [string]::IsNullOrEmpty($InfoFilePath) -and (Test-Path $InfoFilePath)) {
+    $Lines += Get-Content -Path $InfoFilePath
 }
 
+# Use .NET to write file to avoid PowerShell encoding/locking quirks
+# We use UTF8 without BOM for compatibility with how the bash script writes (and
+# what consumers expect).
+$Utf8NoBom = New-Object System.Text.UTF8Encoding $False
+[System.IO.File]::WriteAllLines($OutputPath, $Lines, $Utf8NoBom)
+
 exit 0
diff --git a/python/private/py_console_script_gen.bzl b/python/private/py_console_script_gen.bzl
index de016036b2..528ef8c4fb 100644
--- a/python/private/py_console_script_gen.bzl
+++ b/python/private/py_console_script_gen.bzl
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ def _py_console_script_gen_impl(ctx):
         mnemonic = "PyConsoleScriptBinaryGen",
         progress_message = "Generating py_console_script_binary main: %{label}",
         executable = ctx.executable._tool,
+        env = {
+            "RULES_PYTHON_BOOTSTRAP_VERBOSE": "1",
+        },
     )
 
     return [DefaultInfo(
diff --git a/python/private/python_bootstrap_template.txt b/python/private/python_bootstrap_template.txt
index f2d5a42fda..3b065c6ea5 100644
--- a/python/private/python_bootstrap_template.txt
+++ b/python/private/python_bootstrap_template.txt
@@ -381,6 +381,13 @@ def Main():
   print_verbose("initial cwd:", os.getcwd())
   print_verbose("initial environ:", mapping=os.environ)
   print_verbose("initial sys.path:", values=sys.path)
+  print_verbose("STAGE2_BOOTSTRAP:", STAGE2_BOOTSTRAP)
+  print_verbose("PYTHON_BINARY:", PYTHON_BINARY)
+  print_verbose("PYTHON_BINARY_ACTUAL:", PYTHON_BINARY_ACTUAL)
+  print_verbose("IS_ZIPFILE:", IS_ZIPFILE)
+  print_verbose("RECREATE_VENV_AT_RUNTIME:", RECREATE_VENV_AT_RUNTIME)
+  print_verbose("WORKSPACE_NAME :", WORKSPACE_NAME )
+
   args = sys.argv[1:]
 
   new_env = {}
@@ -391,6 +398,7 @@ def Main():
   #    matters if `_main` doesn't exist (which can occur if a binary
   #    is packaged and needs no artifacts from the main repo)
   main_rel_path = os.path.normpath(STAGE2_BOOTSTRAP)
+  print_verbose("main_rel_path:", main_rel_path)
 
   if IsRunningFromZip():
     module_space = CreateModuleSpace()
@@ -399,6 +407,8 @@ def Main():
     module_space = FindModuleSpace(main_rel_path)
     delete_module_space = False
 
+  print_verbose("runfiles root:", module_space)
+
   if os.environ.get("RULES_PYTHON_TESTING_TELL_MODULE_SPACE"):
     new_env["RULES_PYTHON_TESTING_MODULE_SPACE"] = module_space
 
@@ -412,6 +422,20 @@ def Main():
 
   main_filename = os.path.join(module_space, main_rel_path)
   main_filename = GetWindowsPathWithUNCPrefix(main_filename)
+  if not os.path.exists(main_filename):
+      import pathlib
+
+      manifest_path = os.environ["RUNFILES_MANIFEST_FILE"]
+      manifest = pathlib.Path(manifest_path)
+      manifest_text = manifest.read_text()
+      print_verbose("RUNFILES MANIFEST:\n", manifest_text)
+
+      rf = pathlib.Path(module_space)
+      lines = []
+      for x in rf.glob("**"):
+        lines.append(str(x))
+      lines = "\n".join(lines)
+      raise Exception(f"{main_filename} not found, lines:\n{lines}")
   assert os.path.exists(main_filename), \
          'Cannot exec() %r: file not found.' % main_filename
   assert os.access(main_filename, os.R_OK), \
diff --git a/python/private/stage2_bootstrap_template.py b/python/private/stage2_bootstrap_template.py
index 959e631ad1..4eecb5b174 100644
--- a/python/private/stage2_bootstrap_template.py
+++ b/python/private/stage2_bootstrap_template.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 COVERAGE_INSTRUMENTED = "%coverage_instrumented%" == "1"
 
 # runfiles-root-relative path to a file with binary-specific build information
+# It uses forward slashes, so must be converted for proper usage on Windows.
 BUILD_DATA_FILE = "%build_data_file%"
 
 # ===== Template substitutions end =====
@@ -64,9 +65,17 @@ def get_build_data(self):
             import runfiles
         except ImportError:
             from python.runfiles import runfiles
-        path = runfiles.Create().Rlocation(self.BUILD_DATA_FILE)
-        with open(path) as fp:
-            return fp.read()
+        rlocation_path = self.BUILD_DATA_FILE
+        if is_windows():
+            rlocation_path = rlocation_path.replace("/", "\\")
+        path = runfiles.Create().Rlocation(rlocation_path)
+        try:
+            with open(path) as fp:
+                return fp.read()
+        except Exception as exc:
+            if hasattr(exc, "add_note"):
+                exc.add_note(f"runfiles lookup path: {rlocation_path}")
+            raise
 
 
 sys.modules["bazel_binary_info"] = BazelBinaryInfoModule("bazel_binary_info")
diff --git a/tests/build_data/BUILD.bazel b/tests/build_data/BUILD.bazel
index 64db005f51..599e04b875 100644
--- a/tests/build_data/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/tests/build_data/BUILD.bazel
@@ -21,5 +21,6 @@ genrule(
     name = "tool_build_data",
     outs = ["tool_build_data.txt"],
     cmd = "$(location :print_build_data) > $(OUTS)",
+    tags = ["manual"],
     tools = [":print_build_data"],
 )
diff --git a/tests/integration/compile_pip_requirements/.bazelrc b/tests/integration/compile_pip_requirements/.bazelrc
index b85f03bcb6..be2ceedf66 100644
--- a/tests/integration/compile_pip_requirements/.bazelrc
+++ b/tests/integration/compile_pip_requirements/.bazelrc
@@ -3,3 +3,7 @@ test --test_output=errors
 # Windows requires these for multi-python support:
 build --enable_runfiles
 common:bazel7.x --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/integration/compile_pip_requirements_test_from_external_repo/.bazelrc b/tests/integration/compile_pip_requirements_test_from_external_repo/.bazelrc
index ab10c8caf7..80d2b0d97d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/compile_pip_requirements_test_from_external_repo/.bazelrc
+++ b/tests/integration/compile_pip_requirements_test_from_external_repo/.bazelrc
@@ -1,2 +1,6 @@
 test --test_output=errors
 common:bazel7.x --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/integration/local_toolchains/.bazelrc b/tests/integration/local_toolchains/.bazelrc
index aed08b0790..6a920b180c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/local_toolchains/.bazelrc
+++ b/tests/integration/local_toolchains/.bazelrc
@@ -6,3 +6,7 @@ build --enable_runfiles
 common:bazel7.x --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
 build --//:py=local
 common --announce_rc
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/integration/pip_parse/.bazelrc b/tests/integration/pip_parse/.bazelrc
index a74909297d..3d3d8bd67f 100644
--- a/tests/integration/pip_parse/.bazelrc
+++ b/tests/integration/pip_parse/.bazelrc
@@ -6,3 +6,7 @@ build --enable_runfiles
 try-import %workspace%/user.bazelrc
 
 common:bazel7.x --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/integration/py_cc_toolchain_registered/.bazelrc b/tests/integration/py_cc_toolchain_registered/.bazelrc
index fb31561892..e5a95490e6 100644
--- a/tests/integration/py_cc_toolchain_registered/.bazelrc
+++ b/tests/integration/py_cc_toolchain_registered/.bazelrc
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 # This aids debugging on failure
 build --toolchain_resolution_debug=python
 common:bazel7.x --incompatible_python_disallow_native_rules
+
+# See issue 3567. Disable implicit python zip creation.
+common --build_python_zip=false
+common --@rules_python//python/config_settings:build_python_zip=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/pypi/whl_installer/wheel_installer_test.py b/tests/pypi/whl_installer/wheel_installer_test.py
index 7040b0cfd8..91adddf15a 100644
--- a/tests/pypi/whl_installer/wheel_installer_test.py
+++ b/tests/pypi/whl_installer/wheel_installer_test.py
@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ def setUp(self) -> None:
         shutil.copy(os.path.join("examples", "wheel", self.wheel_name), self.wheel_dir)
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        shutil.rmtree(self.wheel_dir)
+        # On windows, the wheel file remains open, so gives an error upon
+        # deletion for some reason.
+        shutil.rmtree(self.wheel_dir, ignore_errors=True)
 
     def test_wheel_exists(self) -> None:
         wheel_installer._extract_wheel(