The default EXE does not contain a manifest, but you can easily compile an EXE with a manifest. You'll find the EXE source code in the engine SDK.
If you have a problem with the manifest, post again - I'll then generate and upload an EXE that meets the requirement.
JCL: Sorry to bug you, but we're having difficulties compiling the sdk_engine code even without any manifest changes. Any chance you could upload that EXE with the required manifest already in it, as you were suggesting? Or, if you have instructions for compiling the engine using Visual Studio 2005 that are more detailed (and more complete) than the manual, that would work, too.
Thanks for any help you can provide.