diff --git a/INSTALL b/INSTALL
index 9eab54ece..8c9e33bb9 100644
--- a/INSTALL
+++ b/INSTALL
@@ -29,3 +29,8 @@ LVM2 installation
 
 4) Create a configuration file
 
+   The tools will work fine without a configuration file being
+   present, but you ought to review the example file in doc/example.conf.
+   For example, specifying the devices that LVM2 is to use should
+   make the tools run more efficiently - and avoid scanning /dev/cdrom!
+
diff --git a/README b/README
index b01779005..9cf704d08 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-This directory contains an alpha release of LMV2, the new version of 
+This directory contains a beta release of LMV2, the new version of 
 the userland LVM tools designed for the new device-mapper for 
 the Linux kernel.
 
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ The device-mapper needs to be installed before compiling these LVM2 tools.
 For more information about LVM2 read the INTRO file.
 Installation instructions are in INSTALL.
 
-This is alpha-quality software, released for testing purposes only.
+This is beta-quality software, released for testing purposes only.
 There is no warranty - see COPYING and COPYING.LIB.
 
 Tarballs are available from:
diff --git a/doc/example.conf b/doc/example.conf
index 5651d3bf1..3e03f1366 100644
--- a/doc/example.conf
+++ b/doc/example.conf
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # This is an example configuration file for the LVM2 system.  It
 # contains the default settings that would be used if there was no
-# /etc/lvm.conf file.
+# /etc/lvm/lvm.conf file.
+# Refer to 'man lvm.conf' for further information.
 
 
 # This section allows the user to configure which block devices should
@@ -38,8 +39,7 @@ devices {
     # is human readable to aid filter debugging.
     cache = "/etc/lvm/.cache"
 
-    # You may not want to write the cache file... not sure why not
-    # though.
+    # You can turn off writing this cache file by setting this to 0.
     write_cache_state = 1
 }
 
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ log {
 backup {
 
     # Should we maintain a backup of the current metadata configuration ?
+    # Use 1 for Yes; 0 for No.
+    # Think very hard before turning this off.
     backup = 1
 
     # Where shall we keep it ?
@@ -77,7 +79,8 @@ backup {
 
 
     # Should we maintain an archive of old metadata configurations.
-    # On by default.
+    # Use 1 for Yes; 0 for No.
+    # On by default.  Think very hard before turning this off.
     archive = 1
 
     # Where should archived files go ?
@@ -108,7 +111,7 @@ global {
     #umask = 022
 
     # Enabling test mode means that no changes to the on disk metadata
-    # will ever be made.  Equivalent to having the -t option on every
+    # will be made.  Equivalent to having the -t option on every
     # command.  Defaults to off.
     test = 0
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}