diff --git a/doc/direct_mode.mdwn b/doc/direct_mode.mdwn
index 4f6c7d4a7a..ee38b66d24 100644
--- a/doc/direct_mode.mdwn
+++ b/doc/direct_mode.mdwn
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ exceptions:
 * Repositories on FAT and other less than stellar filesystems
   that don't support things like symlinks will be automatically put
   into direct mode.
+* Windows always uses direct mode.
 
 ## enabling (and disabling) direct mode
 
diff --git a/doc/install.mdwn b/doc/install.mdwn
index 03f1464502..03e92a6326 100644
--- a/doc/install.mdwn
+++ b/doc/install.mdwn
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ detailed instructions | quick install
 [[Gentoo]]            | `emerge git-annex`
 [[ScientificLinux5]]  | (and other RHEL5 clones like CentOS5)
 [[openSUSE]]          | 
-Windows               | [[sorry, Windows not supported yet|todo/windows_support]]
+[[Windows]]           | **alpha**
 """]]
 
 ## Using cabal
diff --git a/doc/install/Windows.mdwn b/doc/install/Windows.mdwn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b30228e51a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/install/Windows.mdwn
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+git-annex has recently been ported to Windows.
+
+This port is in an alpha state; many things will not work. See
+[[todo/windows_support]] for current status. Note especially that
+git-annex always uses [[direct_mode]] on Windows.
+
+To build git-annex from source on Windows, simply follow the instructions
+for [[using cabal|cabal]].