diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 71f626c..541e136 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 Here's the general approach:
 
-- 64-bit Windows + 64-bit SDK 7.1 + optionally Visual Studio 2012
+- 64-bit Windows + 64-bit SDK 7.1 + Visual Studio 2012
 - chocolatey packages for remaining dev tool dependencies
 - Cygwin latest development tools
 
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@
 - reboot and run updates
 - Install [Windows SDK 7.1](http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/confirmation.aspx?id=8279)
 - Install [Visual Studio 2012 Express](http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=34673)
-- Install the [NuGet Package Manager](http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/27077b70-9dad-4c64-adcf-c7cf6bc9970c)
 - Install [Chocolatey]:
 
     	    @powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy unrestricted -Command "iex ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))" && SET PATH=%PATH%;%systemdrive%\chocolatey\bin
 
+- (optional) Install the [NuGet Package Manager](http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/27077b70-9dad-4c64-adcf-c7cf6bc9970c)
 - Apply Windows Updates and Reboot until no more updates appear.
 
 Typically here I shutdown & snapshot my VM as past this point its going to
@@ -164,17 +164,18 @@
     # check its working
     sphinx-build -h
 
-## make a new prompt
+## Make a new prompt shortcut
 
 Make a new shortcut on the desktop, targeted at
-`cmd.exe /E:ON /V:ON /T:1F /K "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1\Bin\SetEnv.cmd" /x86 /release && color 1f`
-and I suggest you pin it to the start menu. We'll use this all the time,
+
+    cmd.exe /E:ON /V:ON /T:1F /K "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1\Bin\SetEnv.cmd" /x86 /release && color 1f
+    
+I suggest you pin it to the Start menu. We'll use this all the time,
 referred to as `the SDK prompt`. Right-click on the icon, click the `advanced`
 button, and tick the `Run as Administrator` button. We do need this so that
 `cp -P` works within autotools on Windows8.
 
-If you don't like white-on-blue, type `color` to fix it.
-Color takes parameters if you hate yellow. 
+If you don't like white-on-blue, type `color` to fix it. It takes parameters.
 
 Let's confirm we have the right bits with
 `where cl mc mt link lc rc nmake`:
@@ -188,11 +189,9 @@
 	C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1\Bin\RC.Exe
 	C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\bin\nmake.exe
 
-Stop here if it's not *identical*. Not Visual Studio 11.0. Not SDK v8.0a,
-or 7.0, or 7.0a, or any other satanic god-forsaken combination not listed here.
-Seriously. Identical.
+Stop here if your results are not *identical*.
 
-*NOTE*: A recent MS .NET 4 update broke the ICU build process. To fix, rename
+*NOTE*: A recent MS .NET 4 security update broke the ICU build process. To fix, rename
 the broken SDK version of `cvtres.exe` to get it out of the path:
 
         copy "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\cvtres.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\BIN\cvtresold.exe"
@@ -243,9 +242,16 @@
 
 	pushd %RELAX%\bin && build_icu.cmd
 
-## Start a UNIX-friendly shell
+## Start a UNIX-friendly shell with MS compilers
 
-Our goal is to get the path set up in this order:
+The short version:
+
+1. Start your `SDK prompt` as above
+2. Launch a cygwin erl-ified shell via `c:\relax\bin\shell.cmd`
+3. Select R14B04 unless you know what you are doing!
+4. Skip down to the next section ("Unpack Erlang/OTP")
+
+The long version: our goal is to get the path set up in this order:
 
 1. erlang and couchdb build helper scripts
 2. Microsoft VC compiler, linker, etc from Windows SDK
@@ -255,11 +261,6 @@
 It seems this is a challenge for most environments, so `glazier` just
 assumes you're using [chocolatey] and takes care of the rest.
 
-- start your `SDK prompt` as above
-- launch a cygwin erl-ified shell via `c:\relax\bin\shell.cmd`
-- select R14B04 unless you know what you are doing
-- go to next section to compile Erlang/OTP
-
 Alternatively, you can launch your own cmd prompt, and ensure that your system
 path is correct first in the win32 side before starting cygwin. Once in cygwin
 go to the root of where you installed erlang, and run the Erlang/OTP script:
@@ -302,7 +303,6 @@
 Spidermonkey needs to be compiled with the Mozilla Build chain. This
 requires special and careful incantations. Launch your `SDK prompt` again.
 
-    color
     call c:\mozilla-build\start-msvc10.bat
     which cl link
     # /c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0/VC/Bin/cl.exe
@@ -329,11 +329,12 @@
 Note: the above PATH and LIB hacks are a workaround for having both
 VS2012 + SDK7.1 installed side by side. It seems that having both of
 these installed breaks compilation of js-185. If you're building with
-the SDK 7.1 alone this is not required.
+the SDK 7.1 alone this is not required, but it's recommended to
+follow the steps above anyway for safety.
 
 ## Building CouchDB itself
 
-start `SDK prompt`, shell (4) for R14B04.
+start `SDK prompt`, then shell.cmd, option (4) for R14B04.
 
     cd /relax && git clone http://git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf/couchdb.git
     cd /relax/couchdb