Windows 98 Registry Little Black Book: The Essential Daily Guide to Cracking the PC Code and Personalizing a Computer [Paperback]

Greg Holden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 21, 1998 | Series: Little Black Books (Coriolis)

Describes and demonstrates Windows 98 Registry functions and tools for customizing and optimizing personal computer systems through system properties, Device Manager, and various profiles. Translates the specialized language of the Windows 98 Registry with terms such as dynamic keys, CLSIDs, DWORD values, ProgIDs, and verbs (they're not what your English teacher told you!). Offers quick tips and solutions to speed up performance and improve a PC's error checking.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The great thing about the Windows 98 Registry is that it's a central location for settings and preferences information about the operating system and the programs that exist within it. The problem with the Registry is that the keys you need to locate and the values you need to edit often rank near the bottom of the intelligibility scale. This slender book explains many of the mysteries of the Windows 98 Registry, that repository of settings, preferences, relationships, and other key system data. Win 98 Registry Little Black Book tells what you can accomplish by altering Registry values and walks you through the relevant processes.

For example, this book can assist you in changing the registered user information if your company's name has changed. It can also help if you think the Documents entries in the Start menu constitute a security risk, or if you're unhappy with your modem's throughput and you suspect there's something you can do outside the standard dialog boxes.

It would be nice if this book included information on the Registry entries made by popular application software, such as the programs in Microsoft Office. But as it stands, Win 98 Registry Little Black Book is a fine resource for those who find themselves annoyed by some of Windows 98's default characteristics. --David Wall

About the Author

Greg Holden (Chicago, IL) has written several books about the Internet and computer-related topics and numerous columns specializing in e-commerce, e-business, and the creation of Web sites. Greg was the co-founder of Stylus Media and currently serving as President of this company.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Coriolis Group Books; 1st edition (July 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576102947
• ISBN-13: 978-1576102947
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,021,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Filled with redundant information, May 4, 2000

By 

Adrian Kelly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows 2000 Registry Little Black Book: The Definitive Resource on the NT Registry (Paperback)

First off, the book starts with "This book is not for amateurs." I fully agree, as modifying the Windows registry can have a huge effect (good or bad) on your server. However, I would venture a guess that most users already know how to launch Regedt32. And for those that don't, you would only need to explain it once or twice in the entire text. From then on, "Launch Regedt32" would suffice in the text... But in this case, almost EVERY page in the text has detailed explanations on HOW to launch Regedt32, such that it accounts for about 25% of every page! Overall, that's about 25% of about 440 pages filled with redundant information!

Second, I would estimate that 30-50% of the registry tweaks described can be accomplished without modifying the registry directly. Any NT or Windows 2000 administrator worth his / her salt will probably know this, and would prefer to accomplish the "tweak" without modifying the registry directly.

So overall, 55-75% (25% + 30-50%) of the text is not going to be useful to the typical reader! Disappointing.

There are several aspects of the text that I do like... If you have a specific problem (like how to implement automatic logons without user input), the book has a very simple step-by-step approach to solving these effectively. It also explains the registry layout a bit, and what some of the subkeys are used for.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference Book, October 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows 98 Registry Little Black Book: The Essential Daily Guide to Cracking the PC Code and Personalizing a Computer (Paperback)

This is an excellent reference book with a detachable quick reference card on the WIN98 registry. The format makes it easy to find exactly what you're looking for without reading the entire chapter. It gives step by step instructions on how to accomplish a given task. Also, tips are given in each chapter.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST REFERENCE BOOK ON REGISTRY, June 16, 2002

By 

B Ardell Young (Camden, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Windows 98 Registry Little Black Book: The Essential Daily Guide to Cracking the PC Code and Personalizing a Computer (Paperback)

This was the first book that I read concerning the Windows 98 Registry and could have stopped after finishing this book. The other books lacked the concise detail provided by this book.

This book provides what every computer reference book should but doesn't. Readable informative prose combined with detailed instructions clearly outlining how to accomplish any type of editing possible.

I am the caretaker for a computer lab at work and used this book on a daily basis at work and home. I finally purchased a second copy to cut down on wear and tear of the original. The book is a valuable tool and anyone working with Windows 98 on a daily basis should include this book in their library.