This is the README for the %package_name% binary distribution for Windows, version %version%. * Although CouchDB defaults to installing into your "Program Files" directory, the permissions on the 'var' and 'etc' sub-directories have been adjusted to allow modification by any authorized user so the couchdb databases, logs and .ini files can be written. You may like to further restrict these permissions to only the user who will be running couchdb. * The installer offers to install CouchDB as a Windows Service. If you select this option, the service will run as the "LocalSystem" user and be configured to start automatically. You can configure the service properties via the Windows 'Services' applet. * To start CouchDB in a "console" environment, execute couchdb.bat in the 'bin' directory. A shortcut to this batch file should have been installed. Don't try and start couchdb this way if the service is running - it will fail. * The Futon application which comes with CouchDB does not work with Internet Explorer - Mozilla Firefox is generally recommended. * The test suite is known to fail on Windows due to what appear to be permissions errors; this is due to couch being unable to delete a file while it is in use on Windows. See also https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/COUCHDB-326 * Additional help with the Windows support is needed - please contact the couchdb-dev list if you can help.