Customer Reviews

Microsoft® Windows NT® Workstation 4.0 Resource Kit (Microsoft Professional Editions)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Before buying, I read the other reviews. The main comment seemed to be "boring, too many details." Well if you're like me and love to know how things really work, this is the book to have. For the first time I have documentation on a number of registry flags and tricks to make my computer perform better. Plus the real reason I bought the book (the CD) is packed with utilities like the C2 security configurator and Microsoft Plus. Definetely a must have if you want to get the most out of NT.

I bought the book back in 1996 when I needed something to augment the software. I'd say the average rating at this point, 3 1/2, is a bit high. This is an average book. I can see where it *might* be of benefit to some users, but it has always seemed to me surprisingly short on details. There're some good explanations of things but in my view they tend to be overviews. In three years of use, I don't think it's solved more than two or three problems, and they were not of any great consequence. The CD-ROM included with the book has been of no help. The book strikes me as having been written by a number of people without a real focus. IMHO it's more like a dictionary or reference, and its focus is like them.

I think slightly higher of Mansfield's book, Windows NT 4 Workstation. At least, it has some more practical and easily useful info that's easier to read. Norton has a book on this subject, but I have no idea of it's quality. If you're into networking and the server side of things, try Mark Minasi's Mastering Windows NT Server 4. It's applicable to Workstations too.

Since Windows 2000 will be available in about 2 months, Feb. 2000, this book may lose its relevance fast.

I have had this book since it came out in 1996. When I found it, I was excited - I thought it was going to give me all of this great systems administrator level information about Windows NT. I happily picked up a copy to keep on my bookshelf for reference. I am _still_ awaiting the day where this book is going to give me some useful information.

Over the last 4 years I've come across numerous situations in which something funky was going on with my NT box and I needed more information to diagnose the problem. Every time, I've gone to this book. Not ONCE has the book had an answer to my question! But, the book is SO huge, I keep thinking that there really MUST be some question out there I'm going to have that it will answer. Yet, it always amazes me with a complete lack of an answer -- typically in the form of "see your System Administrator". Uh, hello? What book are system administrators supposed to get then? Or what if you run NT at home and don't have a system administrator? This book touts itself as if it's the book FOR system administrators and then it tells them to "see their system administrator." (ayeeee!)

Thank god I'm just a programmer, not a sys admin and thus only disappoint myself when I can't find the answer. I just remain baffled that Microsoft could fill 1300 pages without an ounce of useful information.

Anyway, I've upgraded my NT systems to 2000 so I'm going to chuck the book -- just thought I'd offer a warning to others about it before it went completely out of my memory.

If you are serious about administering NT, and are not just interested in passing exams for the quick buck, this book is for you. When I received my MCSE in 1996 there were very few study aids and test preps. I used the WKS and Server resource kits to pass the exams. I also learned a lot more about NT than was needed for the exams, but was essential in the real world. Now that the MCSE is worthless, maybe you should learn something useful about the operating system, rather then waste your time memorizing test questions.

Although this book dosen't read like a novel, it's still a good book to look up specific facts quickly! It's laid out very nicely in bite size chunks so your not overwhelmed with too much information, just the informatiion you're looking for! I find it a great addition for the NT Workstation Core exams. It's also extremely thorough! This book IS NT Workstation!!!

VERY POOR! If there was one thing that really got on my nerves about this book; it is the annoying habit of saying "for more information see NT Concepts&Planning" etc. I was trying to find out about user profiles and how to configure and set them up etc. This book gives very little information about it and informs you to buy another book. REALLY IRRITATING. CHOOSE ANOTHER BOOK ON WORKSTATION. You aren't missing anything!!!!

The NTWS Resource Kit covers a lot of ground. It includes info on many subjects and has a substantial index.

The text is dry and technical. Anything in the book is fair game on an MCP exam and therefor makes it a must have for those trying to pass the exam.

Senior Network/Systems Administrator

A must-have for the NT Power User. Both robust on theoretical knowledge about OS architecture, internals, etc. and rich in tips, tools, advice, right-on-target details and hands-on examples about utilities usage. Strong chapters include Deployment, Security, Printing, Tuning and Optimization, File system, Recovery, Troubleshooting, Registry, OS startup, compatibility, Networking and even the NT debugger. Rather common content for NT books, but this one is really packed with useful information. It isn't so much an on-the-spot problem solver. Yet this very technical book is an excellent reference on many advanced subjects for which information is not easily found elsewhere. It is also the kind of books that can actually be read from cover to cover : it provides the solid, in-depth, detailed knowledge of the OS that all serious NT administrators should have. Don't go without it.

Being someone who has woked with NT for several years this book is a requirement. Those that are looking for fun overview reading are looking in the wrong place. The detail on the NT registry and Performance monitoring is not to be found anywhere else. I couldn't live without it.