Windows Vista(TM) Resource Kit (Paperback)

~ (Author), (Author), (Author), Ed Wilson (Author), Ralph Ramos (Author), The Windows Vista Team (Author)
Key Phrases: feature team guide, additional troubleshooting suggestions, elevated command prompt, Windows Firewall, Active Directory, Windows Defender (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Get the definitive reference for deploying, configuring, and supporting Microsoft® Windows Vista(tm)--with expert insights from Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) and the Windows Vista Team. This official Microsoft RESOURCE KIT provides more than 1,500 pages of in-depth technical guidance on automating deployment; implementing security enhancements; administering group policy, files and folders, and programs; and troubleshooting for Windows Vista. In addition, you get detailed information on Microsoft Internet Explorer® 7, Microsoft Windows® Firewall, and Windows Defender. You also get more than 150 timesaving scripts to help automate administrative tasks, additional job aids, and an eBook of the entire RESOURCE KIT on CD.

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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1568 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (April 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735622833
• ISBN-13: 978-0735622838
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #152,043 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #15 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Security & Encryption > Windows Security
  #65 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Microsoft > Operating Systems > Windows NT
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Customer Reviews

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 - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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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 - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dig in, May 24, 2007

By	J. L. Katzenbach (Minnesota) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!