The process seems a bit extensive is why I ask.
Try reading through the process of getting SFML 2 together, that'll make things seem less extensive! :lol:
My answer to your second question is, I've noticed a lot of different people using different compilers on different platforms. You should go through that process of getting it working on VS2010, if anything you will learn some stuff along the way.
When I installed it, I'd never really used a C++ compiler before so I was really very, very green.