diff --git a/mob.ini b/mob.ini
index b63282f..40b8ad6 100644
--- a/mob.ini
+++ b/mob.ini
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 dry              = false
 redownload       = false
 reextract        = false
+reconfigure      = false
 rebuild          = false
 output_log_level = 3
 file_log_level   = 5
diff --git a/src/commands.cpp b/src/commands.cpp
index b949f49..ac0f57f 100644
--- a/src/commands.cpp
+++ b/src/commands.cpp
@@ -313,10 +313,16 @@ clipp::group build_command::do_group()
 		(clipp::option("-e", "--reextract") >> reextract_)
 			% "deletes source directories and re-extracts archives",
 
-		(clipp::option("-b", "--rebuild") >> rebuild_)
-			%  "cleans and rebuilds projects",
+		(clipp::option("-c", "--reconfigure") >> reconfigure_)
+			% "reconfigures the task by running cmake, configure scripts, "
+			   "etc.; some tasks might have to delete the whole source "
+			   "directory",
 
-		(clipp::option("-n", "--new") >> clean_)
+		(clipp::option("-b", "--rebuild") >> rebuild_)
+			%  "cleans and rebuilds projects; some tasks might have to "
+			   "delete the whole source directory",
+
+		(clipp::option("-n", "--new") >> new_)
 			% "deletes everything and starts from scratch",
 
 		(
@@ -343,13 +349,16 @@ void build_command::convert_cl_to_conf()
 {
 	command::convert_cl_to_conf();
 
-	if (redownload_ || clean_)
+	if (redownload_ || new_)
 		common.options.push_back("global/redownload=true");
 
-	if (reextract_ || clean_)
+	if (reextract_ || new_)
 		common.options.push_back("global/reextract=true");
 
-	if (rebuild_ || clean_)
+	if (reconfigure_ || new_)
+		common.options.push_back("global/reconfigure=true");
+
+	if (rebuild_ || new_)
 		common.options.push_back("global/rebuild=true");
 
 	if (nopull_)
diff --git a/src/commands.h b/src/commands.h
index 4c01a0e..86766be 100644
--- a/src/commands.h
+++ b/src/commands.h
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ private:
 	bool redownload_ = false;
 	bool reextract_ = false;
 	bool rebuild_ = false;
-	bool clean_ = false;
+	bool reconfigure_ = false;
+	bool new_ = false;
 	std::optional<bool> nopull_;
 	bool keep_msbuild_ = false;
 	std::optional<bool> revert_ts_;
diff --git a/src/conf.h b/src/conf.h
index 38205c2..d3d8188 100644
--- a/src/conf.h
+++ b/src/conf.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ public:
 	static fs::path log_file() { return global_by_name("log_file"); }
 	static bool redownload()   { return bool_global_by_name("redownload"); }
 	static bool reextract()    { return bool_global_by_name("reextract"); }
+	static bool reconfigure()  { return bool_global_by_name("reconfigure"); }
 	static bool rebuild()      { return bool_global_by_name("rebuild"); }
 
 	static std::vector<std::string> format_options();
diff --git a/src/tasks/boost.cpp b/src/tasks/boost.cpp
index 288a58c..ea61832 100644
--- a/src/tasks/boost.cpp
+++ b/src/tasks/boost.cpp
@@ -58,16 +58,23 @@ void boost::do_build_and_install()
 		build_and_install_from_source();
 }
 
-void boost::do_clean_for_rebuild()
+void boost::do_clean_for_reconfigure()
 {
 	if (prebuilt())
 		return;
 
 	op::delete_directory(cx(), source_path() / "bin.v2", op::optional);
+	op::delete_file(cx(), b2_exe(), op::optional);
+}
+
+void boost::do_clean_for_rebuild()
+{
+	if (prebuilt())
+		return;
+
 	op::delete_directory(cx(), root_lib_path(arch::x86), op::optional);
 	op::delete_directory(cx(), root_lib_path(arch::x64), op::optional);
 	op::delete_file(cx(), config_jam_file(), op::optional);
-	op::delete_file(cx(), b2_exe(), op::optional);
 	op::delete_file(cx(), source_path() / "project-config.jam", op::optional);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/tasks/lz4.cpp b/src/tasks/lz4.cpp
index 9bde1dd..59f909c 100644
--- a/src/tasks/lz4.cpp
+++ b/src/tasks/lz4.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void lz4::build_and_install_from_source()
 	{
 		run_tool(msbuild()
 			.solution(solution_file())
-			.projects({"liblz4-dll"}));
+			.targets({"liblz4-dll"}));
 	});
 
 	instrument<times::install>([&]
diff --git a/src/tasks/modorganizer.cpp b/src/tasks/modorganizer.cpp
index d9741be..b0e635e 100644
--- a/src/tasks/modorganizer.cpp
+++ b/src/tasks/modorganizer.cpp
@@ -49,12 +49,27 @@ fs::path modorganizer::this_source_path() const
 	return super_path() / name();
 }
 
+fs::path modorganizer::this_solution_path() const
+{
+	// run the project file instead of the .sln and giving INSTALL as a
+	// target, because the target name depends on the folders in the solution
+	//
+	// since cmake can put INSTALL inside CMakePredefinedTarget, the target has
+	// to be "CMakePredefinedTarget\\INSTALL" instead of just "INSTALL"
+	//
+	// because the creation of the CMakePredefinedTarget actually depends on
+	// the USE_FOLDERS variable in the cmake file, just use the project
+	// instead
+	const auto build_path = create_cmake_tool(this_source_path()).build_path();
+	return build_path / "INSTALL.vcxproj";
+}
+
 fs::path modorganizer::super_path()
 {
 	return paths::build() / "modorganizer_super";
 }
 
-void modorganizer::do_clean_for_rebuild()
+void modorganizer::do_clean_for_reconfigure()
 {
 	instrument<times::fetch>([&]
 	{
@@ -63,6 +78,18 @@ void modorganizer::do_clean_for_rebuild()
 	});
 }
 
+void modorganizer::do_clean_for_rebuild()
+{
+	instrument<times::clean>([&]
+	{
+		run_tool(msbuild()
+			.solution(this_solution_path())
+			.config("RelWithDebInfo")
+			.architecture(arch::x64)
+			.targets({"Clean"}));
+	});
+}
+
 void modorganizer::do_fetch()
 {
 	instrument<times::init_super>([&]
@@ -127,19 +154,10 @@ void modorganizer::do_build_and_install()
 		return run_tool(create_cmake_tool(this_source_path()));
 	});
 
-	// run the project file instead of the .sln and giving INSTALL as a
-	// target, because the target name depends on the folders in the solution
-	//
-	// since cmake can put INSTALL inside CMakePredefinedTarget, the target has
-	// to be "CMakePredefinedTarget\\INSTALL" instead of just "INSTALL"
-	//
-	// because the creation of the CMakePredefinedTarget actually depends on
-	// the USE_FOLDERS variable in the cmake file, just use the project
-	// instead
 	instrument<times::build>([&]
 	{
 		run_tool(msbuild()
-			.solution(build_path / ("INSTALL.vcxproj"))
+			.solution(this_solution_path())
 			.config("RelWithDebInfo")
 			.architecture(arch::x64));
 	});
diff --git a/src/tasks/ncc.cpp b/src/tasks/ncc.cpp
index 9a39ef1..eb4f762 100644
--- a/src/tasks/ncc.cpp
+++ b/src/tasks/ncc.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ void ncc::do_build_and_install()
 	{
 		run_tool(msbuild()
 			.solution(source_path() / "NexusClient.sln")
-			.projects({"NexusClientCLI"})
+			.targets({"NexusClientCLI"})
 			.platform("Any CPU"));
 	});
 
diff --git a/src/tasks/python.cpp b/src/tasks/python.cpp
index 240b2df..63890bc 100644
--- a/src/tasks/python.cpp
+++ b/src/tasks/python.cpp
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ void python::build_and_install_from_source()
 	{
 		run_tool(msbuild()
 			.solution(solution_file())
-			.projects({
+			.targets({
 				"python", "pythonw", "python3dll", "select", "pyexpat",
 				"unicodedata", "_queue", "_bz2", "_ssl"})
 			.parameters({
diff --git a/src/tasks/task.h b/src/tasks/task.h
index 36cbe99..5a4875a 100644
--- a/src/tasks/task.h
+++ b/src/tasks/task.h
@@ -73,6 +73,17 @@ public:
 		clean
 	};
 
+
+	enum class clean
+	{
+		nothing     = 0x00,
+		redownload  = 0x01,
+		reextract   = 0x02,
+		reconfigure = 0x04,
+		rebuild     = 0x08,
+		everything  = redownload+reextract+reconfigure+rebuild
+	};
+
 	task(const task&) = delete;
 	task& operator=(const task&) = delete;
 
@@ -111,6 +122,7 @@ protected:
 
 	virtual void do_fetch() {}
 	virtual void do_build_and_install() {}
+	virtual void do_clean_for_reconfigure() {}
 	virtual void do_clean_for_rebuild() {}
 
 	template <class Tool>
@@ -145,6 +157,9 @@ private:
 };
 
 
+MOB_ENUM_OPERATORS(task::clean);
+
+
 template <class Task>
 class basic_task : public task
 {
diff --git a/src/tasks/tasks.h b/src/tasks/tasks.h
index 3ef96b0..83aa93a 100644
--- a/src/tasks/tasks.h
+++ b/src/tasks/tasks.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ public:
 protected:
 	void do_fetch() override;
 	void do_build_and_install() override;
+	void do_clean_for_reconfigure() override;
 	void do_clean_for_rebuild() override;
 
 private:
@@ -274,6 +275,7 @@ public:
 protected:
 	void do_fetch() override;
 	void do_build_and_install() override;
+	void do_clean_for_reconfigure() override;
 	void do_clean_for_rebuild() override;
 
 private:
@@ -282,6 +284,7 @@ private:
 	void initialize_super(const fs::path& super_root);
 
 	fs::path this_source_path() const;
+	fs::path this_solution_path() const;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/tasks/usvfs.cpp b/src/tasks/usvfs.cpp
index 4ee6186..9d83a4c 100644
--- a/src/tasks/usvfs.cpp
+++ b/src/tasks/usvfs.cpp
@@ -97,12 +97,12 @@ void usvfs::build_and_install_from_source()
 
 		run_tool(msbuild()
 			.platform("x64")
-			.projects({"usvfs_proxy"})
+			.targets({"usvfs_proxy"})
 			.solution(source_path() / "vsbuild" / "usvfs.sln"));
 
 		run_tool(msbuild()
 			.platform("x86")
-			.projects({"usvfs_proxy"})
+			.targets({"usvfs_proxy"})
 			.solution(source_path() / "vsbuild" / "usvfs.sln"));
 	});
 }
diff --git a/src/tools/cmake.cpp b/src/tools/cmake.cpp
index f15f1dd..e609ece 100644
--- a/src/tools/cmake.cpp
+++ b/src/tools/cmake.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,15 @@ cmake& cmake::cmd(const std::string& s)
 	return *this;
 }
 
+fs::path cmake::build_path() const
+{
+	if (!output_.empty())
+		return output_;
+
+	const auto& g = get_generator(gen_);
+	return root_ / (g.output_dir(arch_));
+}
+
 fs::path cmake::result() const
 {
 	return output_;
@@ -100,11 +109,9 @@ void cmake::do_run()
 	if (root_.empty())
 		cx().bail_out(context::generic, "cmake output path is empty");
 
+	const fs::path output = output_.empty() ? build_path() : output_;
 	const auto& g = get_generator(gen_);
 
-	if (output_.empty())
-		output_ = root_ / (g.output_dir(arch_));
-
 	process_
 		.stdout_encoding(encodings::utf8)
 		.stderr_encoding(encodings::utf8)
@@ -136,7 +143,7 @@ void cmake::do_run()
 	process_
 		.env(env::vs(arch_)
 			.set("CXXFLAGS", "/wd4566"))
-		.cwd(output_);
+		.cwd(output);
 
 	execute_and_join();
 }
diff --git a/src/tools/msbuild.cpp b/src/tools/msbuild.cpp
index 0facf1b..7292e3a 100644
--- a/src/tools/msbuild.cpp
+++ b/src/tools/msbuild.cpp
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ msbuild& msbuild::solution(const fs::path& sln)
 	return *this;
 }
 
-msbuild& msbuild::projects(const std::vector<std::string>& names)
+msbuild& msbuild::targets(const std::vector<std::string>& names)
 {
-	projects_ = names;
+	targets_ = names;
 	return *this;
 }
 
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ void msbuild::do_run()
 		.arg("-verbosity:minimal", process::log_quiet)
 		.arg("-consoleLoggerParameters:ErrorsOnly", process::log_quiet);
 
-	if (!projects_.empty())
-		process_.arg("-target:" + mob::join(projects_, ","));
+	if (!targets_.empty())
+		process_.arg("-target:" + mob::join(targets_, ","));
 
 	for (auto&& p : params_)
 		process_.arg("-property:" + p);
diff --git a/src/tools/tools.h b/src/tools/tools.h
index 21a11a4..66839d0 100644
--- a/src/tools/tools.h
+++ b/src/tools/tools.h
@@ -345,6 +345,15 @@ public:
 	cmake& architecture(arch a);
 	cmake& cmd(const std::string& s);
 
+	// returns the path given in output(), if it was set
+	//
+	// if not, returns the build path based on the parameters (for example,
+	// `vsbuild_32/` for a 32-bit arch with the VS generator
+	//
+	fs::path build_path() const;
+
+	// returns build_path(), used by task::run_tool()
+	//
 	fs::path result() const;
 
 protected:
@@ -422,7 +431,7 @@ public:
 	static fs::path binary();
 
 	msbuild& solution(const fs::path& sln);
-	msbuild& projects(const std::vector<std::string>& names);
+	msbuild& targets(const std::vector<std::string>& names);
 	msbuild& parameters(const std::vector<std::string>& params);
 	msbuild& config(const std::string& s);
 	msbuild& platform(const std::string& s);
@@ -436,7 +445,7 @@ protected:
 
 private:
 	fs::path sln_;
-	std::vector<std::string> projects_;
+	std::vector<std::string> targets_;
 	std::vector<std::string> params_;
 	std::string config_;
 	std::string platform_;