The Unofficial Guide to Windows XP [Paperback]

Michael S. Toot (Author), Derek Torres (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471763209 | ISBN-13: 978-0471763208 | Publication Date: January 31, 2006 | Edition: 1

The inside scoop...for when you want more than the official line!

Microsoft Windows XP SP2 may be a robust and flexible operating system, but to use it with confidence you'll need to know its quirks and shortcuts. Find out what the manual doesn't always tell you in this insider's guide to using Windows XP in the real world. What's the best way to handle security? How do you set up a network?

From handling data to avoiding crashes, first get the official way, then the best way from two expert power users.
* Unbiased coverage of how to get the most out of Windows XP Service Pack 2, including the new Windows Firewall and wireless UI
* Savvy, real-world advice, from customizing your desktop and managing files to setting up a home network and maintaining security
* Time-saving techniques and practical guidance on how to end-run Windows quirks, avoid pitfalls, and increase your productivity
* Tips and hacks on XP Home versus XP Professional, the new Windows Media Player, managing portable computers, and others
* Sidebars, tables, and illustrations on expanding your reach with PowerToys, getting rid of hidden Windows components, playing games the way your video card intended, and more

Watch for these graphic icons in every chapter to guide you to specific practical information.
* Bright Ideas are smart innovations that will save you time or hassle.
* Hacks are insider tips and shortcuts that increase productivity. When you see
* Watch Out! heed the cautions or warnings to help you avoid common pitfalls. And finally, check out
* Inside Scoops for practical insights from the author. It's like having your own expert at your side!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The inside scoop...for when you want more than the official line!

Microsoft Windows XP SP2 may be a robust and flexible operating system, but to use it with confidence you'll need to know its quirks and shortcuts. Find out what the manual doesn't always tell you in this insider's guide to using Windows XP in the real world. What's the best way to handle security? How do you set up a network?

From handling data to avoiding crashes, first get the official way, then the best way from two expert power users.

• Unbiased coverage of how to get the most out of Windows XP Service Pack 2, including the new Windows Firewall and wireless UI
• Savvy, real-world advice, from customizing your desktop and managing files to setting up a home network and maintaining security
• Time-saving techniques and practical guidance on how to end-run Windows quirks, avoid pitfalls, and increase your productivity
• Tips and hacks on XP Home versus XP Professional, the new Windows Media Player, managing portable computers, and others
• Sidebars, tables, and illustrations on expanding your reach with PowerToys, getting rid of hidden Windows components, playing games the way your video card intended, and more

Watch for these graphic icons in every chapter to guide you to specific practical information.

• Bright Ideas are smart innovations that will save you time or hassle.
• Hacks are insider tips and shortcuts that increase productivity. When you see
• Watch Out! heed the cautions or warnings to help you avoid common pitfalls. And finally, check out
• Inside Scoops for practical insights from the author. It's like having your own expert at your side!

About the Author

Michael Toot is a certified MCSE and MCP+I programmer and is the author of several Teach Yourself VISUALLY books. He is the author of Teach Yourself VISUALLY Windows 2000 Server, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Macromedia Web Collection, and the co-author of Master VISUALLY Web Design. He lives in Seattle with his family.

Derek Torres is the founder and principal of dct solutions, a technical communications consultancy based in Chicago, Washington DC and Paris that serves clients around the world. He has over 8 years experience as a technical communicator in the software industry, both in the United States and in Europe. He is a contributor to a leading technical communication magazine and a columnist for a technical writing web site; Derek has also written countless user reference, installation guides, white papers and marketing collateral for the information technology sector. Derek has used Microsoft’s operating systems since the days of DOS 3.0 and writes almost exclusively for the Windows XP platform.

Product Details

• Paperback: 575 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471763209
• ISBN-13: 978-0471763208
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.3 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,292,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Realistic, balanced coverage of Windows XP..., May 7, 2006

By 

Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Windows XP (Paperback)

Being that I work at a company that uses Windows XP on the desktop, it's to my benefit to understand what it can and can't do (regardless of my personal feelings towards Microsoft). Michael S. Toot and Derek Torres have a well-balanced book that cuts right to the "how to" aspects of Windows XP... The Unofficial Guide to Windows XP.

Contents:
Part 1 - Installation, Configuration, and Customization: Preparing for Installation; Installing Windows XP; Managing the Windows Desktop
Part 2 - Manage the XP Environment: Managing Users; Managing Files and Folders; Managing Security; Mastering Multimedia with Windows XP
Part 3 - Networking with Windows XP: Networking and the Internet; Working with Network Services; Integrating with Active Directory
Part 4 - Manage the Hardware Environment: Working with Windows Internals; Working with Hard Drives; Managing Portable Computers; Troubleshooting Windows XP
Index

I think what I liked best about this book is it doesn't attempt to cover every single aspect of Windows with the zeal of a Microsoft evangelist. The authors cover the most often used and touched parts of XP and give you enough information to understand how to work with it and modify it to work the way *you* need to work. Also, if there's something better out there, they'll tell you. For instance, it's not often you'll find a book on Windows where the writers tell you they really dislike Outlook and have switched to Thunderbird for various reasons. I knew then I was getting information based on experience and not party line spin. There's also a large number of tips and hints that you probably don't know but that have bugged you for some time. Like learning that Windows XP and the power management features does not control the wireless connection, and it will drain your battery much faster than you'd think. Didn't know that... Actually, I found myself doing the "didn't know that" routine a lot in this book.

I'll be carting this book off to work on Monday in order to prevent a few help desk calls in the future. It might also help me help my users avoid a few, too...