diff --git a/test/lex/Jamfile b/test/lex/Jamfile
index 83e4361e32..626ad5f11e 100644
--- a/test/lex/Jamfile
+++ b/test/lex/Jamfile
@@ -105,9 +105,9 @@ run regression_matlib_switch.cpp           : : : <dependency>lex_regression_matl
 run regression_word_count.cpp ;
 run regression_syntax_error.cpp ;
 run regression_wide.cpp ;
-run regression_file_iterator1.cpp ;
-run regression_file_iterator2.cpp ;
-run regression_file_iterator3.cpp : : : <pch>off ;
-run regression_file_iterator4.cpp ;
+run state_any_token_semact.cpp ;
+run multi_pass.cpp ;
+run lookahead.cpp : : : <pch>off ;
+run bol_reset.cpp ;
 run regression_static_wide_6253.cpp ;
 run regression_less_8563.cpp ;
diff --git a/test/lex/auto_switch_lexerstate.cpp b/test/lex/auto_switch_lexerstate.cpp
index 5d6f9af70a..1d49f0142b 100644
--- a/test/lex/auto_switch_lexerstate.cpp
+++ b/test/lex/auto_switch_lexerstate.cpp
@@ -12,9 +12,6 @@
 
 #include <boost/spirit/include/lex_lexertl.hpp>
 
-#include <boost/spirit/include/support_multi_pass.hpp>
-#include <boost/spirit/include/classic_position_iterator.hpp>
-
 #include <boost/core/lightweight_test.hpp>
 #include <boost/phoenix/operator/self.hpp>
 
@@ -23,21 +20,8 @@
 namespace spirit = boost::spirit;
 namespace lex = spirit::lex;
 
-typedef spirit::classic::position_iterator2<
-    spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >
-> file_iterator;
-
-inline file_iterator 
-make_file_iterator(std::istream& input, const std::string& filename)
-{
-    return file_iterator(
-        spirit::make_default_multi_pass(
-            std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(input)),
-        spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >(),
-        filename);
-}
-
-typedef lex::lexertl::token<file_iterator> token_type;
+typedef char const* content_iterator;
+typedef lex::lexertl::token<content_iterator> token_type;
 
 struct lexer
   : lex::lexer<lex::lexertl::actor_lexer<token_type> >
@@ -66,11 +50,10 @@ typedef lexer::iterator_type token_iterator;
 
 int main()
 {
-    std::stringstream ss;
-    ss << "!foo\nbar\n!baz";
+    std::string const s = "!foo\nbar\n!baz";
     
-    file_iterator begin = make_file_iterator(ss, "SS");
-    file_iterator end;
+    content_iterator begin = s.data();
+    content_iterator end = s.data() + s.size();
     
     lexer l;
     token_iterator begin2 = l.begin(begin, end);
diff --git a/test/lex/regression_file_iterator4.cpp b/test/lex/bol_reset.cpp
similarity index 73%
rename from test/lex/regression_file_iterator4.cpp
rename to test/lex/bol_reset.cpp
index 4f30193875..698e2aecf1 100644
--- a/test/lex/regression_file_iterator4.cpp
+++ b/test/lex/bol_reset.cpp
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 // if a token matched at the beginning of a line is discarded using 
 // lex::pass_fail.
 
-#include <boost/spirit/include/support_multi_pass.hpp>
-#include <boost/spirit/include/classic_position_iterator.hpp>
 #include <boost/spirit/include/lex_lexertl.hpp>
 
 #include <boost/core/lightweight_test.hpp>
@@ -21,21 +19,8 @@
 namespace spirit = boost::spirit;
 namespace lex = spirit::lex;
 
-typedef spirit::classic::position_iterator2<
-    spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >
-> file_iterator;
-
-inline file_iterator 
-make_file_iterator(std::istream& input, const std::string& filename)
-{
-    return file_iterator(
-        spirit::make_default_multi_pass(
-            std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(input)),
-        spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >(),
-        filename);
-}
-
-typedef lex::lexertl::token<file_iterator> token_type;
+typedef char const* content_iterator;
+typedef lex::lexertl::token<content_iterator> token_type;
 
 struct lexer
   : lex::lexer<lex::lexertl::actor_lexer<token_type> >
@@ -69,11 +54,10 @@ typedef lexer::iterator_type token_iterator;
 
 int main()
 {
-    std::stringstream ss;
-    ss << "!foo\nbar\n!baz";
+    std::string const s = "!foo\nbar\n!baz";
     
-    file_iterator begin = make_file_iterator(ss, "SS");
-    file_iterator end;
+    content_iterator begin = s.data();
+    content_iterator end = s.data() + s.size();
     
     lexer l;
     token_iterator begin2 = l.begin(begin, end);
diff --git a/test/lex/id_type_enum.cpp b/test/lex/id_type_enum.cpp
index a2eccfe49f..b469379962 100644
--- a/test/lex/id_type_enum.cpp
+++ b/test/lex/id_type_enum.cpp
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 //  file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
 
 #include <boost/spirit/include/lex_lexertl.hpp>
-#include <boost/spirit/include/support_multi_pass.hpp>
-#include <boost/spirit/include/classic_position_iterator.hpp>
 
 #include <boost/core/lightweight_test.hpp>
 #include <boost/phoenix/operator/self.hpp>
@@ -16,19 +14,7 @@
 namespace spirit = boost::spirit;
 namespace lex = spirit::lex;
 
-typedef spirit::classic::position_iterator2<
-    spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >
-> file_iterator;
-
-inline file_iterator 
-make_file_iterator(std::istream& input, const std::string& filename)
-{
-    return file_iterator(
-        spirit::make_default_multi_pass(
-            std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(input)),
-        spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >(),
-        filename);
-}
+typedef char const* content_iterator;
 
 enum token_id
 {
@@ -37,7 +23,7 @@ enum token_id
 };
 
 typedef lex::lexertl::token<
-    file_iterator, boost::mpl::vector<>, boost::mpl::true_, token_id
+    content_iterator, boost::mpl::vector<>, boost::mpl::true_, token_id
 > token_type;
 
 struct lexer
@@ -69,11 +55,10 @@ typedef lexer::iterator_type token_iterator;
 
 int main()
 {
-    std::stringstream ss;
-    ss << "!foo\nbar\n!baz";
+    std::string const s = "!foo\nbar\n!baz";
     
-    file_iterator begin = make_file_iterator(ss, "SS");
-    file_iterator end;
+    content_iterator begin = s.data();
+    content_iterator end = s.data() + s.size();
     
     lexer l;
     token_iterator begin2 = l.begin(begin, end);
diff --git a/test/lex/regression_file_iterator3.cpp b/test/lex/lookahead.cpp
similarity index 69%
rename from test/lex/regression_file_iterator3.cpp
rename to test/lex/lookahead.cpp
index 6c3a044643..22b262d59d 100644
--- a/test/lex/regression_file_iterator3.cpp
+++ b/test/lex/lookahead.cpp
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
 #define BOOST_SPIRIT_DEBUG 1    // required for token streaming
 // #define BOOST_SPIRIT_LEXERTL_DEBUG 1
 
-#include <boost/spirit/include/support_multi_pass.hpp>
-#include <boost/spirit/include/classic_position_iterator.hpp>
 #include <boost/spirit/include/lex_lexertl.hpp>
 
 #include <boost/core/lightweight_test.hpp>
@@ -22,31 +20,17 @@ namespace spirit = boost::spirit;
 namespace lex = spirit::lex;
 namespace phoenix = boost::phoenix;
 
-typedef spirit::classic::position_iterator2<
-    spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >
-> file_iterator;
-
-typedef boost::iterator_range<file_iterator> file_range;
-
-inline file_iterator 
-make_file_iterator(std::istream& input, const std::string& filename)
-{
-    return file_iterator(
-        spirit::make_default_multi_pass(
-            std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(input)),
-        spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >(),
-        filename);
-}
+typedef char const* content_iterator;
 
 struct string_literal
 {
-    string_literal(file_iterator, file_iterator)
+    string_literal(content_iterator, content_iterator)
     {
     }
 };
 
 typedef lex::lexertl::token<
-    file_iterator, boost::mpl::vector<string_literal>
+    content_iterator, boost::mpl::vector<string_literal>
 > token_type;
 
 struct lexer
@@ -72,11 +56,10 @@ typedef lexer::iterator_type token_iterator;
 
 int main()
 {
-    std::stringstream ss;
-    ss << "'foo''bar'";
+    std::string const s = "'foo''bar'";
 
-    file_iterator begin = make_file_iterator(ss, "SS");
-    file_iterator end;
+    content_iterator begin = s.data();
+    content_iterator end = s.data() + s.size();
 
     lexer l;
     token_iterator begin2 = l.begin(begin, end);
diff --git a/test/lex/regression_file_iterator2.cpp b/test/lex/multi_pass.cpp
similarity index 72%
rename from test/lex/regression_file_iterator2.cpp
rename to test/lex/multi_pass.cpp
index f859cb22e7..725872701a 100644
--- a/test/lex/regression_file_iterator2.cpp
+++ b/test/lex/multi_pass.cpp
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@
 //  Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying 
 //  file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
 
+// problem in multi_pass showing up in conjunction with certain lexer usage patterns
+
 #include <boost/spirit/include/support_multi_pass.hpp>
-#include <boost/spirit/include/classic_position_iterator.hpp>
 #include <boost/spirit/include/lex_lexertl.hpp>
 
 #include <boost/core/lightweight_test.hpp>
@@ -17,36 +18,24 @@
 namespace spirit = boost::spirit;
 namespace lex = spirit::lex;
 
-typedef spirit::classic::position_iterator2<
-    spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >
-> file_iterator;
-
-inline file_iterator 
-make_file_iterator(std::istream& input, const std::string& filename)
-{
-    return file_iterator(
-        spirit::make_default_multi_pass(
-            std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(input)),
-        spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >(),
-        filename);
-}
+typedef char const* content_iterator;
 
 struct identifier
 {
-    identifier(file_iterator, file_iterator)
+    identifier(content_iterator, content_iterator)
     {
     }
 };
 
 struct string_literal
 {
-    string_literal(file_iterator, file_iterator)
+    string_literal(content_iterator, content_iterator)
     {
     }
 };
 
 typedef lex::lexertl::token<
-    file_iterator, boost::mpl::vector<identifier, string_literal>
+    content_iterator, boost::mpl::vector<identifier, string_literal>
 > token_type;
 
 struct lexer
@@ -83,11 +72,10 @@ typedef lexer::iterator_type token_iterator;
 
 int main()
 {
-    std::stringstream ss;
-    ss << "foo 'bar'";
+    std::string const s = "foo 'bar'";
     
-    file_iterator begin = make_file_iterator(ss, "SS");
-    file_iterator end;
+    content_iterator begin = s.data();
+    content_iterator end = s.data() + s.size();
     
     lexer l;
     token_iterator begin2 = l.begin(begin, end, "ST");
diff --git a/test/lex/regression_file_iterator1.cpp b/test/lex/state_any_token_semact.cpp
similarity index 65%
rename from test/lex/regression_file_iterator1.cpp
rename to test/lex/state_any_token_semact.cpp
index 3420732e34..eae69c6913 100644
--- a/test/lex/regression_file_iterator1.cpp
+++ b/test/lex/state_any_token_semact.cpp
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 //  Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying 
 //  file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
 
-#include <boost/spirit/include/support_multi_pass.hpp>
-#include <boost/spirit/include/classic_position_iterator.hpp>
+// lexers with semantic actions attached to state '*' tokens
+
 #include <boost/spirit/include/lex_lexertl.hpp>
 
 #include <boost/core/lightweight_test.hpp>
@@ -16,38 +16,24 @@
 namespace spirit = boost::spirit;
 namespace lex = spirit::lex;
 
-typedef spirit::classic::position_iterator2<
-    spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >
-> file_iterator;
-
-typedef boost::iterator_range<file_iterator> file_range;
-
-inline file_iterator 
-make_file_iterator(std::istream& input, const std::string& filename)
-{
-    return file_iterator(
-        spirit::make_default_multi_pass(
-            std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(input)),
-        spirit::multi_pass<std::istreambuf_iterator<char> >(),
-        filename);
-}
+typedef char const* content_iterator;
 
 struct identifier
 {
-    identifier(file_iterator, file_iterator)
+    identifier(content_iterator, content_iterator)
     {
     }
 };
 
 struct string_literal
 {
-    string_literal(file_iterator, file_iterator)
+    string_literal(content_iterator, content_iterator)
     {
     }
 };
 
 typedef lex::lexertl::token<
-    file_iterator, boost::mpl::vector<identifier, string_literal>
+    content_iterator, boost::mpl::vector<identifier, string_literal>
 > token_type;
 
 struct lexer
@@ -75,11 +61,10 @@ typedef lexer::iterator_type token_iterator;
 
 int main()
 {
-    std::stringstream ss;
-    ss << "foo 'bar'";
+    std::string const s = "foo 'bar'";
     
-    file_iterator begin = make_file_iterator(ss, "SS");
-    file_iterator end;
+    content_iterator begin = s.data();
+    content_iterator end = s.data() + s.size();
     
     lexer l;
     token_iterator begin2 = l.begin(begin, end, "ST");
diff --git a/test/support/Jamfile b/test/support/Jamfile
index c955dabf2a..45d8c16ce5 100644
--- a/test/support/Jamfile
+++ b/test/support/Jamfile
@@ -68,4 +68,3 @@ run utree.cpp ;
 run utree_debug.cpp ;
 
 compile multi_pass_functor.cpp ;
-compile multi_pass_position_iterator.cpp ;
diff --git a/test/support/multi_pass_position_iterator.cpp b/test/support/multi_pass_position_iterator.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 6df9d2f47c..0000000000
--- a/test/support/multi_pass_position_iterator.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-//  Copyright (c) 2010 Chris Hoeppler
-// 
-//  Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
-//  file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
-
-// This code below failed to compile with MSVC starting with Boost V1.42
-
-#include <vector>
-#include <boost/spirit/include/classic_position_iterator.hpp>
-#include <boost/spirit/include/qi.hpp>
-
-namespace char_enc = boost::spirit::ascii;
-namespace qi = boost::spirit::qi;
-
-int main()
-{
-    typedef std::vector<char> file_storage;
-    typedef boost::spirit::classic::position_iterator<
-        file_storage::const_iterator> iterator_type;
-
-    qi::rule<iterator_type, std::string(), qi::blank_type> top =
-        qi::lexeme[+char_enc::alpha];
-
-    // I do not know what the hell is going under the hood of MSVC 9,
-    // but the next line fixes compilation error.
-    // error C3767: '!=': candidate function(s) not accessible
-    iterator_type first, last;
-
-    return first == last; // just to silence unused variable warnings
-}
-