Windows XP Power Tools [Paperback]

Jim Boyce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 2002 | ISBN-10: 078214067X | ISBN-13: 978-0782140675

Step-by-Step Instruction Helps You Harness the Full Power of Windows XP
Whether you're running Windows XP Home Edition or Professional, Windows XP Power Tools arms you with the advanced skills you need to become the ultimate power user. Full of undocumented tips and tricks and written by a Windows expert, this book provides you with step-by-step instructions for customization, optimization, troubleshooting and shortcuts for working more efficiently. A must-have for power users and network administrators, Windows XP Power Tools includes a CD filled with power tools including security, e-mail, diagnostic and data recovery utilities.
Coverage includes:
* Performing network, automated, and unattended installations
* Controlling Windows XP startup and shutdown
* Controlling printing
* Auditing the system
* Adding and removing OS components
* Understanding and managing the Registry
* Working with Device Manager
* Setting up and troubleshooting incoming and outgoing connections
* Hosting FTP sites
* Performing backups and recovering from disasters
* Managing users and groups
* Setting up, monitoring, and managing Remote Access
* Configuring and optimizing TCP/IP
* Managing certificates
* Configuring VPN connections
* Encrypting your files

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Step-by-Step Instruction Helps You Harness the Full Power of WindowsXP

Whether you're running Windows XP Home Edition or Professional,Windows XP Power Tools arms you with the advanced skills you need tobecome the ultimate power user. Full of undocumented tips and tricks and writtenby a Windows expert, this book provides you with step-by-step instructions forcustomization, optimization, troubleshooting and shortcuts for working moreefficiently. A must-have for power users and network administrators, WindowsXP Power Tools includes a CD filled with power tools including security,e-mail, diagnostic and data recovery utilities.

Coverageincludes:

• Performing network, automated, and unattendedinstallations
• Controlling Windows XP startup and shutdown
• Controllingprinting
• Auditing the system
• Adding and removing OScomponents
• Understanding and managing the Registry
• Working with DeviceManager
• Setting up and troubleshooting incoming and outgoingconnections
• Hosting FTP sites
• Performing backups and recovering fromdisasters
• Managing users and groups
• Setting up, monitoring, andmanaging Remote Access
• Configuring and optimizing TCP/IP
• Managingcertificates
• Configuring VPN connections
• Encrypting your files

About the Author

Jim Boyce has authored and/or co-authored over 40 computer books, many of them for Windows power users. Jim has been a contributing editor for Windows Magazine and WinMag.com, and continues to write numerous articles for pubs including Tech Republic, PC Mag and InfoWorld. Jim has been working with computers since the late 70s.

Product Details

• Paperback: 848 pages
• Publisher: Sybex (May 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078214067X
• ISBN-13: 978-0782140675
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,928,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jim Boyce has authored or coauthored more than 45 books about
computer hardware and software, including Microsoft Outlook Version 2002
Inside Out. He is a former contributing editor and monthly columnist for
WINDOWS Magazine. He has been involved with computers as a programmer and
systems manager in a variety of capacities since the late 1970s. He has a
wide range of experience in the MS-DOS®, Microsoft Windows®, Microsoft
Windows NT®, and UNIX environments.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required text for Power Users, September 22, 2002

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows XP Power Tools (Paperback)

"Windows XP Power Tools" is a fantastic collection of tips and tricks for really using Windows XP to it's fullest potential. Each of the advanced techniques is fully explained in a way that you can feel comfortable implementing it without concern that you will be breaking something else. Topic coverage is extensive and includes advanced setup information such as startup and shutdown control, networking, OS components, FTP hosting, hardware, remote access and VPN connections as well as maintenance information on items such as the registry, security, automated tasks, the command console, policies, and recovering from disasters.

If that weren't enough reason to purchase the book (which, believe me, it is), it also has a CD with many useful utilities. If you want a book that is well written and comprehensive with detailed instructions to make you a real power user and troubleshooter then this is an excellent choice - A highly recommended book.

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent definitive reference, July 2, 2002

By 

Jase T. Wolfe - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows XP Power Tools (Paperback)

Regardless of your Windows XP level, professional systems administrators using XP Professional to first time home users using XP Home Edition can find value in this title. The author has succeeded in putting together an easy reading and comprehending, one-stop reference that puts Microsoft's Windows XP Resource Kit and Step by Step books to shame.

The book does an excellent job of addressing the needs of users where Windows XP is their first OS away from Windows 9x, while not bringing the information level down for seasoned NT/2000 administrators who need a source of information for the features so poorly documented by Microsoft.

The printed portion of the book covers everything from Windows Shortcuts, Policies, the Recovery Console and EFS to slipstream deployment of service packs, designing network topologies, web mastering with IIS and VPN Connections. The included CD-ROM includes many useful shareware/professional utilities and tools (and unlike some other included CD-ROMs, many of the titles are used quite frequently within the industry). A nice note about the CD-ROM and the book is that the author hasn't written an 800 page advertisement for the utilities - the CD-ROM can stay sealed in the pouch, never seeing the light of day, and the book will still stand on it's own.

The back cover says it's a must-have. I've used Windows XP since it was in beta, deployed the release to my network users, and certified in the OS by Microsoft - and I couldn't agree more.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Windows XP Power Tools - Best of Breed, June 19, 2002

By 

K. A. Tobin (Bend, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows XP Power Tools (Paperback)

Windows XP Power Tools is a jewel for advanced and power users of Windows XP, both the home and professional versions. It is well organized and can be read from cover-to-cover or by individual sections. Each section covers the topics in detail with excellent examples and illustrations.

Windows XP Power Tools is not just a rehash of vendor documentation or other authors that leave out important information. Rather, each topic is presented in enough detail to be complete and really useful.

To me, a good technical computer book allows the reader to stand on the shoulders of the author to get a jump-start on rapidly evolving technologies. The author, Jim Boyce seems to have broad shoulders on which to stand.

If you are an advanced computer user and want good, focused information on Windows XP, then get this book.