Windows 98 in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) [Paperback]

Tim O'Reilly (Author), Troy Mott (Author), Walter Glenn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 1999 | Series: In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)

Windows 98 in a Nutshell is a comprehensive, compact reference that systematically unveils what serious users of Windows 98 will find interesting and useful. Little known details of the operating system, utility programs, and configuration settings are all captured in a consistent reference format.

Based on the bestselling "In a Nutshell" approach, this book contains more information about using Windows 98 than any other book on the market. Guaranteed. Windows 98 in a Nutshell was coauthored by Tim O'Reilly, the publisher whose books have revolutionized computer book publishing with their commonsense approach, depth of detail, and focus on practical information that you can really use. If you can't remember which option on a dialog box controls a function, or if you just want to have a better handle on what's available in Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition, this is the book you need.

It contains:

• Detailed information on almost every command and utility available with Windows 98, including Start Menu accessories, DOS commands, hidden system administration utilities such as the Registry Editor, Policy Editor, and TweakUI, as well as new utilities in Windows 98
• Detailed advice and documentation on system configuration via the Control Panel, system startup files, and the Registry
• A detailed treatment of Internet configuration and access via Dial-Up Networking
• Hundreds of tips, gotchas, and clever ways to do familiar and not-so-familiar tasks
• A focus on ways to integrate the command line into your work with Windows 98
• Pointers to dozens of useful online sites that contain additional information
• Information on how to use Win98's new Web integration features to build custom "Web applications" within folders or on your desktop
• Detailed information on Windows Script Host (WSH), the feature that lets you use VBScript or other scripting languages to automate common tasks

This book follows the commonsense O'Reilly approach, cutting through the hype and giving practical details you can use every day. Any user who wants to make the most of Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition will love this book.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Windows 98 in a Nutshell, the latest addition to the family of O'Reilly's Nutshell books (an extremely useful set of references for developers, system administrators, and users), covers the current version of the Microsoft Windows operating system, Windows 98. Up to date enough to cover the latest SE edition, it's a compilation of tips, information, and guides to using and working with Windows.

This is a book of three parts, the first giving you a brief overview of the Windows way of working. Section two is a deeper, alphabetical reference to the various functions and features of Windows 98, complete with plenty of screen shots and instructions for getting the best out of your PC.

If you're running a network or want to get a better understanding of Windows 98 systems, you'll find the third section of the book most useful. It covers in depth the tools you need to run Windows, from the Registry to building and running batch files. However, where it really excels is in its coverage of one of Microsoft's hidden secrets--the Windows Scripting Host. Using this and the reference to the available functions in the book, you can create simple scripts to control and add extra functions to your Windows systems.

Because Windows 98 is so poorly documented, this book is the ideal desktop aid for both the beginner and the power user. Windows 98 in a Nutshell is the manual Microsoft left out of the Windows 98 box. --Simon Bisson, amazon.co.uk

Review

'Highly recommended for anyone who wants to get the best out of Windows 98. It has already helped me to resolve a few problems as well as discover many new features. I look forward to the Windows Millienium edition. ' - Mike Mallett, Cvu, February 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 2nd edition (September 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156592486X
• ISBN-13: 978-1565924864
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,955,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Windows 98 In a Nutshell, March 31, 2000

By 

Kerry Liles (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows 98 in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) (Paperback)

I must confess that I would not ordinarily think of buying a windows nutshell book because I foolishly thought that I already knew a fair bit about Windows 9x and NT for that matter. However, after browsing through W98Nut in a Border Books, I discovered that this book thoroughly covered many aspect of Win9x in a very concise and readable fashion: networking, boot process, all (and I mean all) miscellaneous and utility programs.

Each aspect is covered very nicely - syntax, command options, the effects of the choices (*very important*) and something that I found neat...often there are URLs pointed to a Web reference for a piece of shareware or freeware that either replaces the Windows functionality or supplants it with a better idea.

This is the type of book that I call a "commuter book" because you are unlikely to read it cover to cover at one sitting, but more likely to pick it up every spare moment and just cruise through it looking for a gem (and there are many tidbits).

In my case, I was on the commuter train thinking about how to automate an FTP file upload from a customer's machine to a Unix server on their network and I looked up the DOS mode ftp program and discovered the syntax to conduct an unattended ftp session! Marvelous.

I think if you run Windows 9x you have to have this reference book - forget all the other books that are phone book size (with a CD full of useless stuff that is out of date anyway) and get this compact and chock a block full guide.

(I already own Unix in a Nutshell, but I had bought that when I knew little about Unix - now I realize that you need these books more when you THINK you know what you are doing!).

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Win98 Nutshell - if you run it you gotta have it, March 24, 2000

By 

Kerry Liles - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows 98 in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) (Paperback)

I must confess that I would not ordinarily think of buying a windows nutshell book because I foolishly thought that I already knew a fair bit about Windows 9x and NT for that matter. However, after browsing through W98Nut in a Border Books, I discovered that this book thoroughly covered many aspect of Win9x in a very concise and readable fashion: networking, boot process, all (and I mean all) miscellaneous and utility programs.

Each aspect is covered very nicely - syntax, command options, the effects of the choices (*very important*) and something that I found neat...often there are URLs pointing to a Web reference for a piece of shareware or freeware that either replaces the Windows functionality or supplants it with a better idea.

This is the type of book that I call a "commuter book" because you are unlikely to read it cover to cover at one sitting, but more likely to pick it up every spare moment and just cruise through it looking for a gem (and there are many tidbits).

In my case, I was on the commuter train thinking about how to automate an FTP file upload from a customer's machine to a Unix server on their network and I looked up the DOS mode ftp program and discovered the syntax to conduct an unattended ftp session! Marvelous.

I think if you run Windows 9x you have to have this reference book - forget all the other books that are phone book size (with a CD full of useless stuff that is out of date anyway) and get this compact and chock a block full guide.

(I already own Unix in a Nutshell, but I had bought that when I knew little about Unix - now I realize that you need these books more when you THINK you know what you are doing!).

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Win 98 references, July 27, 2000

By 

Roger Burks (Riverside, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows 98 in a Nutshell (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) (Paperback)

This book is very efficiently organized and it contains lots of useful information about excellent accessory programs that most people have never heard of. It helped me configure Windows to the point that I really like it now. It is weak on registry information, so you have to buy another book if you want to know a lot about that. Definitely worth the money anyway!