Windows Vista Resource Kit [Paperback]

Mitch Tulloch (Author), Tony Northrup (Author), Jerry Honeycutt (Author), Ed Wilson (Author), Ralph Ramos (Author), The Windows Vista Team (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0735622833 | ISBN-13: 978-0735622838

In-depth and comprehensive, this resource delivers the information you need for administering Windows Vista. You get expert technical guidance from those who know the technology best—Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals and the Microsoft Windows Vista team. Plus—more than 200 scripts, tools and essential administration resources on DVD.

Get expert guidance on how to:

• Plan and implement high-volume and low-volume deployment projects
• Configure Group Policy to manage clients, user profiles, search features, and network resources
• Administer disks, file systems, folders, printers, and other devices
• Implement file and media sharing in workgroup and domain environments
• Configure wireless networking protocols, TCP/IP, and VPN connections
• Manage software updates, User Account Control, Windows Firewall, and Ipsec protection
• Monitor event logs and system performance
• Troubleshoot hardware, drivers, network connectivity, and stop messages

DVD features:

• 140+ scripts for automating administration and deployment.
• Network troubleshooting tools.
• Debugging tools for 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows.
• Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment 2007—plus supporting tools.
• Technical white papers on Windows Vista administration.
• Sample chapters from Microsoft Security Resource Kit, Second Edition and Microsoft VBScript Step by Step.
• Fully searchable eBook.

A Note Regarding the CD or DVD

The print version of this book ships with a CD or DVD. For those customers purchasing one of the digital formats in which this book is available, we are pleased to offer the CD/DVD content as a free download via O'Reilly Media's Digital Distribution services. To download this content, please visit O'Reilly's web site, search for the title of this book to find its catalog page, and click on the link below the cover image (Examples, Companion Content, or Practice Files). Note that while we provide as much of the media content as we are able via free download, we are sometimes limited by licensing restrictions. Please direct any questions or concerns to [e-mail].

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Key Book Benefits:

-Definitive product information and expert insights straight from the Windows Vista team and Microsoft MVPs -Provides the information that every Windows administrator needs about troubleshooting, security enhancements, group policy, and automating administration -CD includes additional job aids and a fully searchable version of the entire RESOURCE KIT book

About the Author

Mitch Tulloch is a widely recognized expert on Windows administration and has been awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) status for his contributions supporting those who deploy and use Microsoft platforms, products, and solutions.

Tony Northrup, MCTS, MCSE, CISP, MVP, is a networking consultant and coauthor of Windows Server 2008 Networking and Network Access Protection (NAP).

Jerry Honeycutt, MVP for Windows, is a popular author with more than 25 books to his credit, including Microsoft Windows Desktop Deployment Resource Kit. In addition, he is a columnist for Windows XP Expert Zone and Microsoft TechNet.

The Windows Vista Team designs, develops, and supports the Windows Vista operating system.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1568 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (April 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735622833
• ISBN-13: 978-0735622838
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 2.6 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #956,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Computers & Technology > Home Computing & How-to > Microsoft How-to > Windows OS > Windows Vista

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars All About Vista in only 1500 Pages April 23, 2007

By Jase T. Wolfe

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Windows OS Resource Kits have always proved invaluable to the administrator, and the Vista RSK is no different; over 1500 pages in this edition and a DVD as well.

This RSK is much more inclusive than some previous Windows Desktop RSKs. Part 1 starts off with an tour of Vista's changes over XP, and an overview of the OS' security components. Part 2 is all about automated deployment (over 250 pages dedicated to it), outlining general preparation and environmental requirements, use of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK), and Windows Business Desktop Deployment 2007 (Windows BBD 2007). Both AIK and BBD are included in the DVD. Part 3 covers desktop management, geared mostly for network administrators managing Vista clients, and includes additional Microsoft services such as Windows Meeting Space, Search and Internet Explorer 7. Part 4 covers desktop maintenance (and coverage of an oddly placed Remote Assistance). Part 5 deals with networking and includes a section on deploying IPv6. The final section provides around 200 pages of troubleshooting, divided into startup, hardware / driver, network, and Stop messages.

Besides the aforementioned, the accompanying DVD also provides a PDF version of the book, several sample chapters of other books, and over 170 scripts and tools (mostly VBS scripts) aimed at both showing the intrinsic administrative capabilities of Vista as well as additional tools to assist in deployment, management, and troubleshooting.

Unlike the first two attempts at an XP RSK, this RSK starts things off right with in-depth information that is easy to find and easy to understand. A must have for administrators.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Enterprise implementations, not for home or enthusiasts May 28, 2007

By K. Frazier

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Vista Resource Kit is a decent resource for Enterprise Class customers. Unfortunately, past product resource kits did not focus entirely upon the enterprise distribution functionality, and could be used to benefit the management of stand-alone systems.

Much of this edition requires the use of Ultimate, Business, or Enterprise editions of Vista. Implementation focuses upon group policy management in lieu of more detail access to registry settings, as was done in prior resource kits.

It is still a valuable tool, but if you are an individual user looking for detail insight of the funtionality and control of the Vista operating system, you will need to look for another book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dig in May 24, 2007

By J. L. Katzenbach

Format:Paperback

Vista Resource Kit isn't exactly the kind of book you sit down and read cover to cover. There are better books for that purpose. What this book is good for - and I'll risk saying exceptional for - is digging in to exactly how things wrok. Great resource for research!