Windows XP in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference

by David A. Karp, Tim O'Reilly, Troy Mott, Richard Cobbett (Other)

Overview

Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition documents everything there is to know about the world's most widely used operating system. Updated to include information on Service Pack 2 (SP2), this compact guide is the ultimate resource for IT professionals and Windows XP power users everywhere. Written in O'Reilly's time-tested in a Nutshell format, Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition cuts through the hype and delivers practical details in a no-nonsense manner. At the heart of the book is an invaluable 200-plus-page section titled Windows XP Application and Tools. In it, readers will find:

• A list of available commands and utilities, including Start Menu accessories, command prompt tools, and hidden system administration utilities
• A Task and Setting Index for quick access to hundreds of XP settings
• A complete reference to XP's command prompt, including advanced commands and scripting features

Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition also includes a primer on files, folders, and windows; control panels and built-in applications; how to set up a PC for Internet use; and the standard Windows rituals of troubleshooting, installation, and upgrading. And, of course, this greatly expanded second edition also includes all the need-to-know details about the security technologies featured in SP 2, so you can better defend yourself against viruses, worms, and hackers. Readers even receive guidelines and instructions for installing SP2 on their PC, or across a network of computers. With its wealth of tips, careful instruction, and expert advice, this must-have desktop reference is dedicated to making your time at the computer safer, easier, and more fun.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780596009007
Publisher:	O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	02/15/2005
Series:	In a Nutshell Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	684
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.33(d)

About the Author

David A. Karp is the author of the bestselling Windows Annoyances series of books and the founder of Annoyances.org. He writes for PC Magazine and his latest books include eBay Hacks and the upcoming eBay: The Missing Manual.

Tim O'Reilly is the founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media, Inc., thought by many to be the best computer book publisher in the world. O'Reilly Media also hosts conferences on technology topics, including the Web 2.0 Summit, the Web 2.0 Expo, the O'Reilly Open Source Convention, and the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference. Tim's blog, the O'Reilly Radar, "watches the alpha geeks" to determine emerging technology trends, and serves as a platform for advocacy about issues of importance to the technical community. Tim is an activist for open source and open standards, and an opponent of software patents and other incursions of new intellectual property laws into the public domain. Tim's long-term vision for his company is to change the world by spreading the knowledge of innovators. For everything Tim, see tim.oreilly.com.

Troy Mott is the president of Backstop Media, providing services for customized technical content delivery. He has a passion for editing and working with authors to create high-quality content. When he isn't staring at a computer screen, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Lisa, and their two children, Luke and Emma.

Table of Contents

Preface; Considerations and Scope; Organization of the Book; Conventions Used in This Book; We’d Like to Hear from You; Safari Enabled; Windows XP Resource Links; Using Code Examples; Acknowledgments; The Big Picture; Chapter 1: The Lay of the Land; 1.1 The Big Picture; 1.2 What’s New in Windows XP; 1.3 Windows XP Home and Professional Editions; 1.4 Windows Update; 1.5 Windows Service Packs; Chapter 2: Using Windows XP; 2.1 The Desktop; 2.2 Point-and-Click Operations; 2.3 Starting Up Applications; 2.4 Styles and Consequences of Styles; 2.5 Windows and Menus; 2.6 Keyboard Accelerators; 2.7 Common Controls; 2.8 Files, Folders, and Disks; 2.9 The Command Line; 2.10 Online Help; 2.11 Shutting Down; Alphabetical Reference; Chapter 3: The User Interface; Chapter 4: Windows XP Applications and Tools; 4.1 Using the Command Prompt; 4.2 Alphabetical Reference to Windows Components; Chapter 5: Task and Setting Index; Chapter 6: The Command Prompt; 6.1 Using the Command Line; 6.2 Command Prompt Choices; 6.3 Wildcards, Pipes, and Redirection; 6.4 Alphabetical Reference to DOS Commands; 6.5 MS-DOS Batch Files; Advanced Topics; Chapter 7: Networking; 7.1 Networking Terminology; 7.2 General Procedures; Chapter 8: The Registry; 8.1 What’s in the Registry; 8.2 Adding and Deleting Registry Keys and Values; 8.3 Organization of the Registry; 8.4 Hives; 8.5 Backing Up the Registry; 8.6 Exporting and Importing Registry Data with Patches; 8.7 Ten Cool Things You Can Do in Your Registry; Chapter 9: The Windows Script Host; 9.1 What Is WSH?; 9.2 Additional Resources; 9.3 Executing Scripts; 9.4 Creating a Script; 9.5 VBScript; 9.6 Object Model; 9.7 Wscript Object; 9.8 Shell Object; 9.9 Registry Routines; 9.10 Shortcuts; 9.11 Popup; 9.12 Network Object; 9.13 Network Printer-Related Functions; 9.14 FileSystem Object; 9.15 TextStream Object; 9.16 Object Browser; 9.17 Database Example; 9.18 Messaging; Appendixes; Installing Windows XP; Installation on a New (Clean) System; Migrating to Windows XP; Before Upgrading to Windows XP; Keyboard Shortcuts; Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Key; Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Function; Power Toys and TweakUI; Inside TweakUI; Keyboard Equivalents for Symbols and International Characters; Common Filename Extensions; Services; Service Packs; Before You Install; Getting Service Packs; Installing a Service Pack; Key Features in Service Pack 1; Key Features in Service Pack 2; Colophon;

Editorial Reviews

As the installed base of Microsoft's newest operating system, XP, grows, guides to its use will continue to proliferate (see also Computer Media, LJ 3/1/02). Upgraders with little previous experience will be drawn to 10 Minute Guide, which highlights changes from earlier versions and explains common tasks step by step. Small and leaving no room for background or troubleshooting assistance, this should be purchased in conjunction with more comprehensive guides, such as The Missing Manual. It provides enough background to allow new home users and upgraders to get up and running, while leaving them feeling as if they have a handle on why and how things work. Ample screen shots and sidebars further this process; recommended for all libraries. Headaches, for beginning to intermediate users, focuses on troubleshooting common XP problems and annoyances, like a too-rapid cursor blink rate. Nutshell is a reference for advanced users of home and professional editions, with an alphabetical format that allows quick lookup of functions and features within larger sections (e.g., networking, the registry, etc.). Each is useful and appropriate for larger libraries.'

Library Journal