diff --git a/doc/doc/INSTALLING-PLUGINS.TXT b/doc/doc/INSTALLING-PLUGINS.TXT
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a709b1196b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/doc/INSTALLING-PLUGINS.TXT
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+HOW TO INSTALL MAX PANDA PLUGINS.
+
+Step 1. Install the visual studio 2005 runtime by
+running "vcredist_x86-sp1.exe" as administrator.
+
+Step 2. Make sure that there is only one copy of panda
+in your system PATH.  If you only have one copy of panda
+installed, you can skip this step.
+
+Step 3. Copy the relevant DLLs for your version
+of max from the panda plugins directory to the
+max plugins directory.  
+
+HOW TO INSTALL MAYA PANDA PLUGINS.
+
+(To be written)
+
+
diff --git a/doc/doc/ReleaseNotes b/doc/doc/ReleaseNotes
index a475adffa9..904a241dae 100644
--- a/doc/doc/ReleaseNotes
+++ b/doc/doc/ReleaseNotes
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ This release incorporates lots of small, incremental
 improvements.
 
 * Model-cache enabled by default in prepackaged release.
+* Now compiling with visual studio 2005. 
+* Plugin installation now slightly harder --- see instructions in plugins dir.
 * Improved OSX support: mouselook, fmod fixes, icon filename.
 * Better memory usage tracking from pstats.
 * Removed dependencies on NSPR.