Customer Reviews

PC Magazine Windows XP Solutions

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've had the book for a couple of weeks now, and I keep learning new tricks. Most recently the book taught me how to create screen capture movies that I can e-mail to others. I'm using this trick mostly to create "here's how you do this" videos for my parents, which is a lot easier than trying to talk them through the computer challenge du jour over the phone.

Probably the next most useful sections of the book for me have been the parts covering User Profile managment. I've never found those tasks to be intuitive in WinXP, and the book does a great job of showing me how I can finally get some benefit out of Profiles, rather than the headaches they've been giving me since I got WinXP.

The book has other chapters on these topics, too:
*Working With Digital Cameras
*Making Videos
*Recording & Ripping Music
*Remote Control of Windows XP via the internet
*Using Windows XP as an Internet Server

Plus, of course, chapters on security, backups, installing hardware/software, and the other sorts of topics you'd expect from PC Magazine.

One of my Windows XP machines got completely corrupted and would not boot - even in safe mode. Normally I would wipe the drive and move on with a fresh install, but in this case, I needed to recover several files - including my recent honeymoon photos.

I had visions of booting with a recovery floppy and drilling down DOS directories - copying one file at a time to the floppy disk.

Chapter 11 had exactly the solution I needed - create a new partition, install Win XP fresh, and recover the files from the old partition.

Highly recommended.

Excellent Book! Neil Randall is obviously well versed in all Windows platforms as well as Mac. Extolls Windows XP virtues and points to it's weaknesses. The premise of this book is: "Having it my Way". He steps through Windows explaining how to do things, many of which are deeply hidden. Not a novice book, certainly, but filled with step by step instruction with pictures for a clear and precise understanding.
In my years working in computers, studying operating systems, including Mac, I found this book to be the simplest to understand while delving deep into what Windows XP has to offer and how to use all the options. In addition safety measures are recommended, third party software is discussed and web links provided.
Highly recommend this book to learn Windows XP.

Microsoft's Windows XP is indeed a considerable improvement over its predecessors. But to the chagrin of many users, it is certainly not bug free. In response, Randall offers you many ways to improve the security and user experience.

Of course, he assumes that you are already fairly familiar with your machine. This book is not meant for the total novice. But going through it can turn you into a power user. He starts by showing how to better control the user interface. There are things you can do with the control panel that are neat and often ignored in simpler texts.

Actually, most if not all of the book can also be used by a system administrator. Very useful in answering those tricky questions from inquisitive users that want to push the envelope of the machine. The book helps you stay ahead of them.

This is an awesome book that will tell you a lot of stuff about Windows XP. However, like most books they include sections on stuff that you should already know before you buy the book. For example, how to play a CD and stuff like that. However, this book does succeed in providing information on XP, but I still feel that some stuff was left out. The book needs to be a little bigger. Due to the fact that this book is based for the beginner I cannot recommend that you get this book if you are trying to get more knowledge about XP. Instead I would recommend that you invest in Microsoft Windows XP Inside and Out, Second Edition. This book will give you all the information you want and then some. But this book is a very solid contender and I still use it, even though I am an advanced user. Give the book a try I guess.

This is one Part of two so get both..Have a problem? grab the books..I even bought another set for a friend of mine who is a retired pc tech and he loves them..--Phyllis

Suject matter covered is clearly explained. The topics selected are very practical and not usually found in other books.

This book is valuabe for new and experienced users. I teach XP and I learned many things from the book. It is a good book for "How do I do that?" in Windows XP.

It is unfortunate that someone with the credentials of this author could put out a book with such little substance. The flowery descriptions and vague detail are not suited to a book purchased for technical reference.

This has proved a useful book -- straight answers to several issues I had, and laid out in a functional format. This book is a keeper !!