Customer Reviews

Windows XP Hacks & Mods For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers))

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

 

 

If you run Windows XP and you're annoyed by the number of things you can't do (or so says Microsoft), you'll love this book... Windows XP Hacks & Mods For Dummies by Woody Leonhard.

Contents:
Part 1 - The Nuts & Bolts of Hacks & Mods: Windows XP - What's Not to Love?; Tools of the Hacking Trade; A Quick XP Makeover
Part 2 - Controlling the Look and Feel of Windows XP: TweakUI, the Power User's PowerToy; Pinning Down the Start Menu; Taking On the Taskbar; Decking Out the Desktop
Part 3 - Adjusting Everyday Activities: Reining In Windows Explorer; Cool Keyboard Hacks and Menu Mods; Searching on the Desktop; Switching to Better Online Software; Pulling Off Pictures
Part 4 - Modding to Monitor and Manage: Seeing What's Happening; Decoding IDs, Accounts, and Passwords; Using Remote Assistance; Retooling Disks
Part 5 - Protecting Yourself (And Your PC): Changing (In)Security Settings; Taking the "Mal" out of Malware; Keeping Your Privates Private
Part 6 - Entertaining Yourself: Making the Most of Media Player; Buying Music and Videos; Trading Music and Videos; Getting Games to Work
Part 7 - The Part of Tens: Ten Steps to Mastering the Registry; Ten Speed-Up Hacks - Maybe
Index

This was one of the most entertainingly informative books I've had the pleasure of reading in awhile. Leonhard is not at all a fan of Microsoft and his cynicism drips on every page. Things I normally take for granted as "that's just the way it works" are dissected, and ways to hack around them are outlined. For instance, perhaps you don't like the way that the roller wheel on your mouse scrolls more than one line at a time. Woody shows you how to download the TweakUI powertoy from Microsoft, which has the ability to tweak that setting and seemingly a hundred more. He also suggests a number of other software packages (non-Microsoft, of course) to allow you to have a more safe and secure computing experience. Substitute Firefox for IE. Switch out MSN for Trillian or Gaim. Basically, you'll find dozens of gems in these chapters that will quickly pay back your investment in time and dollars with the book. Plus, you'll have fun reading it. Leonhard's a great writer...

Definitely a recommended volume to have at hand for your Windows XP computing experience...

Well, perhaps giving 5 stars to this book is a bit too much (perhaps a 4,5 would have been better).

First I'll clarify what the book's title means with "hacks and mods": what it means is no more that teaching the most important menu options, and capabilities that are taught in any serious manual. And it also enhances the power of XP by installing Microsoft's TWEAKUI program, that's very easy to use but you need to be explained how to use it. It also advices what tools there're to be acquired to enhance XP, make it more stable, use the correct Antivirus, Firewall etc, and it explains very well what garbage you must avoid when you're advised to get and which to aquire from Microsoft and form other software firms.

The book doesn't mince its words in criticising the worst of Microsoft's practice and the many garbage it includes in XP to make it sell you useless stuff. It also advises good websites and software that is usually free and improves XP.

When I started the book it seemed to me a bit "light" i.e.: that it didn't say anything new, but as I advanced I learnt very useful things that I always missed.
Who's this book intended for?: I'd say it's intended for the average XP user who misses to show off a little bit of his XP knowledge to his friends (and enemies). It's not an XP exhaustive manual (which would be boring). The best about this book is that it's very easy to read, the author shows to be proficient in computing but won't bore you with unnecessarily deep stuff.
I've read this book (only two last chapters to finish) and summarized it's brightest points in a Word file that I'll revise.
Even with Windows 7 entering the market, I'm afraid XP will be on the market because it's a very light OS compared to Windows 7 (I mean that XP runs very fast on a 1GB RAM PC) and I'm sure many of the tricks you'll learn here will apply (or be improved) by Windows 7.

You'll read it fast, the book is well structured and very well explained.


By the way: You'll learn stuff in this book that you won't find in a fat XP manual (especially if the fat book was edited by Microsoft).

This book is a very helpful book, it gives a lot of detailed information, the index is great, things are easy to find.
It surpassed my expectations, I highly reccomend it, also the company I purchased it from is excellent rapid shipping,
and receiving

I hate the title of "Dummies" books but I love the books. There is some very interesting stuff as well as useful. It's like being given surgical techniques that way outdistances what is already known. Love it!!

WELL IF YOU GET WINDOWS XP FOR DUMMIES IT DOSEN'T HURT TO GET AS MANY BOOKS ON THE SYSTEM THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DEPEND ON TO RUN YOUR BOX. I USE TO WORK FOR A COMPANY AND WHEN EVER WE ADDED A NEW SYSTEM, I ALWAYS GOT ALL THE DOCS FOR IT, JUST TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT. THIS SERIES FOR DUMMIES MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO GET ALL YOU CAN FROM WHAT YOU INVEST IN.