Windows Annoyances (Nutshell Handbooks) [Paperback]

David A. Karp (Author)

Book Description

Series: Nutshell Handbooks | Publication Date: January 8, 1997

Windows Annoyances, a comprehensive resource for intermediate to advanced users of Windows 95 and NT 4.0, details step-by-step how to customize your Win95/NT operating systems through an extensive collection of tips, tricks, and workarounds.

Learn how to customize every aspect of your Win95/NT system, far beyond the intentions of Microsoft. Programmers and network administrators will appreciate the information in this book. Even advanced users will find it intriguing. All of the extensive details have been laid out in a simple, direct format that intermediate to advanced users can follow with ease.

Features that can be found in both Win95 and WinNT 4.0 are covered:

• Customize your PC by learning methods of backing up, repairing, compressing, and transferring portions of the Registry.
• For Win95 users, discover how Plug and Play, the technology that makes Win95 so compatible, can save you time and improve the way you interact with your computer.
• Explore an exhaustive collection of tips and tricks for customizing the new interface of Win95/NT.
• Learn how to benefit from the new 32-bit software and hardware drivers that support such features as improved multitasking and long filenames.

You will also find topics ranging from useful keyboard shortcuts to ways you can format floppies faster, more reliably, and with greater capacity. Networking in Win95/NT is an issue for many users, but this book covers in detail everything from dialing into the Internet to connecting two computers across a peer-to-peer network! This book even provides instructions for capatilizing on security and multiple-user settings for Win95 and WinNT. You will also discover ways of acquiring and using third-party software and utilities to tackle some of the more complex workarounds, requiring a minimum investment in both time and money. Windows Annoyances not only shows you step-by-step how to personally customize your Win95/NT operating systems, it provides you with the ability to troubleshoot common problems, thus giving you immense control over the operating system.

(Note: This book is not replaced by Windows 98 Annoyances. O'Reilly will be providing ongoing marketing support for both volumes.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The premise of Windows Annoyances is that Windows 95 and Windows NT are pretty dreadful until you've performed a healthy amount of customization work. If you are a long-time supporter of this premise, you'll appreciate this eclectic grab bag of techniques for fixing major weaknesses, curing minor annoyances, and boosting overall performance.

The book begins with a basic introduction to the Windows shell customization, then immediately delves deeper. You'll be introduced to the registry and registry editing, including how to use patches, search for entries, and--if you're feeling bold--compact the registry database. The next chapter, on advanced shell configuration, is particularly rich with unusual tricks. These include ways to get rid of standard icons, such as My Computer, remove the Documents menu, protect your file types (Associations), and even edit the text on the Start button. While some of these tips are simply tweaking for tweaking's sake, others can offer real improvements in security.

A brief chapter on system administration presents advice on everything from improved Windows 95 security to how to transfer the operating system to another hard disk. Another section on performance optimization includes a fabulous suggestion for minimizing Windows 95's tendency to kick off long sessions of pointless hard disk thrashing. In addition, a long troubleshooting section draws your attention to some of the system's more vulnerable areas (your winsoc.dll file, for example), addresses configuration file issues, and gives good advice for disaster prevention and recovery. The troubleshooting topic that suggests ways to curb Windows 95 from searching for phantom files on an empty floppy drive is sure to become a favorite. Finally, the networking section offers plenty of valuable hints for workgroup setup and using dial-up networking.

All in all, Windows Annoyances is more of a collection of tips and tricks than a systematic resource manual. But most of the book's tricks are so useful and powerful that you'll be glad you learned them.

From the Publisher

Windows Annoyances, a comprehensive resource for intermediate to advanced users of Windows 95 and NT 4.0, details step-by-step how to customize your Win95/NT operating system through an extensive collection of tips, tricks, and workarounds. Learn how to customize every aspect of your Win95/NT system, far beyond the intentions of Microsoft. You don't have to be a programmer or network administrator to utilize the information in this book, yet even advanced users will find it intriguing. All of the extensive details have been laid out in a simple, direct format that intermediate to advanced users can follow with ease. Of course, some time will be spent discussing some of the features that can be found in both Win95 and WinNT 4.0 such as: A whole chapter covering the Registry explains the methods of backing up, repairing, compressing, and transferring portions of the Registry, thus providing personal customization. For Win95 users, discover how Plug and Play, the technology that makes Win95 so compatible, can save you time and improve the way you interact with your computer. Explore an exhaustive collection of tips and tricks for customizing the new interface of Win95/NT. Learn how to benefit from the new 32-bit software and hardware drivers that support such features as improved multitasking and long filenames. You will also find topics ranging from useful keyboard shortcuts, to ways you can format floppies faster, more reliably, and with greater capacity. Networking in Win95/NT is an issue for many users, but this book covers in detail everything from dialing into the Internet, to connecting two computers across a peer-to-peer network! This book even provides instructions for capatilizing on security and multiple-user settings for Win95 & WinNT as well. You will also discover ways of acquiring and using third-party software and utilities to tackle some of the more complex workarounds, requiring a minimum investment in both time and money. Windows Annoyances will not only show you step-by-step how to personally customize your Win95/NT operating system, it will provide you with the ability to troubleshoot common problems, thus giving you immense control over the operating system.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1st ed edition (January 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565922662
• ISBN-13: 978-1565922662
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,533,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another O'Reilly Masterpiece!, December 4, 1999

By 

"bdunn" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows Annoyances (Nutshell Handbooks) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. Think you know Windows? Read this book, and I think you'll discover more than you think. If Windows is giving you fits, or you'd simply like to change a few things that just annoy you (who doesn't?), pick this one up. It's very simply an excellent reference tool for both Windows users and anyone who administrates Windows computers.

Fortunately, this book should be good for both the novice and the professionals. However, if you are a novice, just make sure you understand the instructions that are carefully laid out in the book. There is nothing at all complicated, but there are many examples of simple registry changes that could be bad news if you just rip through it. Take it line by line (few examples have more than 5-6 simple steps), and you'll have no trouble at all.

O'Reilly is truly an amazing book publisher. It's very uncommon to pick up one of their books and find even one error or lack of coverage. This book is NO EXCEPTION. O'Reilly makes a durable book with a clever binding called a RepKover. That's very important, something you'll discover after referring to O'Reilly books over & over & over again. These books are kept on the desktop or very nearby and used continuously.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Usable Book", July 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows Annoyances (Nutshell Handbooks) (Paperback)

Finally a book that is not as thick as my family Bible and a lot of the Microsoft "Hype" that is in the other books. It gets right to the issue. Those O'Reilly folks do an excellent job in all of their Nutshell books and it good to see them approaching the Microsoft world with the same outlook.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best computer books I've ever read!!, February 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows Annoyances (Nutshell Handbooks) (Paperback)

The book provides easy to understand and implement solutions to many of the quirks that plague me in my work as a system administrator. Although some of the undocumented Win95 information it contains is available elsewhere he presents the information without using extreme technospeak and not making the reader feel like a dummy. I recommand that this be a must read for anyone who is at all involed with win95