Windows XP in a Nutshell

Larger Cover

By David A. Karp, Tim O'Reilly, Troy Mott

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Released: April 2002

Pages: 640

This compact and comprehensive book systematically unveils what resolute users of the new Windows XP operating system will find interesting and useful, with little-known details, utility programs, and configuration settings all captured in a consistent reference format.

A hands-on guide, Windows XP in a Nutshell cuts through the hype and gives practical details you can use every day. It's written by David A. Karp, the best-selling author whose no-nonsense "Annoyances" books and web site (Annoyances.org) have helped thousands of users solve problems and improve their experience with Windows®. The co-author is none other than Tim O'Reilly, founder of O'Reilly & Associates, whose books have revolutionized computer book publishing with their commonsense approach and depth of detail.

At the heart of the book is a 200-plus-page reference section titled "Windows XP Applications and Tools," containing:

Detailed information on most of the commands and utilities available with Windows XP, including Start Menu accessories, command prompt tools, hidden system administration utilities such as the Registry Editor, Microsoft Management Console, and TweakUI.
A comprehensive "Where to Find It?" section designed to give Windows 9x/Me and Windows NT/2000 users a guide to the XP counterparts to previously familiar features, plus information on installing and upgrading.
The Task and Setting Index, which provides users with quick access to locations of the hundreds of settings in Windows XP, organized alphabetically.
A complete reference to the command prompt-- not only covering the basics of the command line and the different ways to use it, but also the advanced commands and scripting features at Windows XP's disposal.

Packed with numerous tips and tricks, while warning of potential pitfalls, Windows XP in a Nutshell enables anyone to get the most out of all the resources available in XP.

The Big Picture
1. Chapter 1 The Lay of the Land
  1. The Big Picture
  2. What’s New in Windows XP
  3. Windows XP Home and Professional Editions
  4. Windows Update
2. Chapter 2 Using Windows XP
  1. The Desktop
  2. Point and Click Operations
  3. Starting Up Applications
  4. Styles and Consequences of Styles
  5. Windows and Menus
  6. Keyboard Accelerators
  7. Common Controls
  8. Files, Folders, and Disks
  9. The Command Line
  10. Online Help
  11. Shutting Down
Alphabetical Reference
1. Chapter 3 The User Interface
2. Chapter 4 Windows XP Applications and Tools
  1. Using the Command Prompt
  2. Alphabetical Reference to Windows Components
  3. Accessibility Options
  4. Accessibility Wizard
  5. Activate Windows
  6. Active Connections Utility
  7. Add Hardware Wizard
  8. Add or Remove Programs
  9. Address Book
  10. Administrative Tools
  11. At
  12. Attrib
  13. Backup
  14. Boot Configuration Manager
  15. Cabinet (CAB) Maker
  16. Calculator
  17. Character Map
  18. Chat
  19. Chkdsk
  20. Chkntfs
  21. Clipbook Viewer
  22. Command Prompt
  23. Component Services
  24. Computer Management
  25. Connection Manager Profile Installer
  26. Control Panel
  27. Create Shared Folder
  28. Date and Time Properties
  29. DDE Share
  30. Device Manager
  31. DirectX Management Tool
  32. Disk Cleanup
  33. Disk Defragmenter
  34. DiskPart
  35. Display Properties
  36. Dr. Watson
  37. Driver Verifier Manager
  38. DriverQuery
  39. Event Viewer
  40. Explorer
  41. FAT to NTFS Conversion Utility
  42. Fax Console
  43. Fax Cover Page Editor
  44. File Compare (comp)
  45. File Compare (fc)
  46. File Expansion Utility
  47. File and Settings Transfer Wizard
  48. Finger
  49. Folder Options
  50. Font Viewer
  51. Fonts Folder
  52. ForceDOS
  53. Format
  54. FreeCell
  55. FTP
  56. Game Controllers
  57. Group Policy Refresh Utility
  58. Hearts
  59. Help and Support Center
  60. HyperTerminal
  61. IExpress
  62. Internet Backgammon
  63. Internet Checkers
  64. Internet Explorer
  65. Internet Hearts
  66. Internet Reversi
  67. Internet Options
  68. Internet Spades
  69. Java Command-Line Loader
  70. Keyboard Properties
  71. Label
  72. Local Security Policy
  73. Logoff
  74. Microsoft Chat
  75. Microsoft Magnifier
  76. Microsoft Management Console
  77. Microsoft NetMeeting
  78. Minesweeper
  79. Mouse Properties
  80. Msg
  81. MSN Explorer
  82. MSN Gaming Zone
  83. My Computer
  84. My Network Places
  85. Narrator
  86. Net
  87. Netstat
  88. Network Connections
  89. Network Setup Wizard
  90. New Connection Wizard
  91. Notepad
  92. NSLookup
  93. NTFS Compression Utility
  94. NTFS Encryption Utility
  95. Object Packager
  96. ODBC Data Source Administrator
  97. On-Screen Keyboard
  98. OpenFiles
  99. Outlook Express
  100. Paint
  101. Pentium Bug Checker
  102. Performance Log Manager
  103. Performance Logs and Alerts
  104. Phone and Modem Options
  105. Phone Dialer
  106. Pinball
  107. PING
  108. Power Options
  109. Printers and Faxes
  110. Private Character Editor
  111. Product Activation
  112. Program Manager
  113. Query Process
  114. Regional and Language Options
  115. Recycle Bin
  116. Registry Console Utility
  117. Registry Editor
  118. Remote Assistance
  119. Remote Copy
  120. Remote Desktop Connection
  121. Route
  122. Rundll32
  123. Run As
  124. Scanners and Cameras
  125. Scheduled Tasks
  126. Scheduled Tasks Console
  127. Security Template Utility
  128. Send a Fax
  129. Services
  130. Shutdown
  131. Signature Verification Tool
  132. Solitaire
  133. Sound Recorder
  134. Sounds and Audio Devices
  135. Speech Properties
  136. Spider Solitaire
  137. SQL Server Client Network Utility
  138. Start Menu
  139. Subst
  140. Synchronization Manager
  141. System Properties
  142. System Configuration Editor
  143. System Configuration Utility
  144. System Information
  145. System Restore
  146. Task Manager
  147. Taskbar and Start Menu Properties
  148. Taskkill
  149. Tasklist
  150. Telnet
  151. Telnet Administrator
  152. Tracert
  153. User Accounts
  154. Utility Manager
  155. Volume Control
  156. Windows Explorer
  157. Windows File Checker
  158. Windows Help System
  159. Windows IP Configuration
  160. Windows Media Player
  161. Windows Messenger
  162. Windows Movie Maker
  163. Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
  164. Windows Script Host
  165. Windows Update
  166. WordPad
3. Chapter 5 Task and Setting Index
4. Chapter 6 The Command Prompt
  1. Using the Command Line
  2. Command Prompt Choices
  3. Wildcards, Pipes, and Redirection
  4. Alphabetical Reference to DOS Commands
  5. cd or chdir
  6. cls
  7. copy
  8. date
  9. del or erase
  10. dir
  11. echo
  12. exit
  13. find
  14. md or mkdir
  15. more
  16. move
  17. path
  18. prompt
  19. rd or rmdir
  20. ren or rename
  21. set
  22. sort
  23. time
  24. type
  25. ver
  26. xcopy
  27. MS-DOS Batch Files
  28. call
  29. choice
  30. errorlevel
  31. for
  32. goto
  33. if
  34. pause
  35. rem
  36. shift
Advanced Topics
1. Chapter 7 Networking
  1. Networking Terminology
  2. General Procedures
2. Chapter 8 The Registry
  1. What’s in the Registry
  2. Adding and Deleting Registry Keys and Values
  3. Organization of the Registry
  4. Hives
  5. Backing Up the Registry
  6. Exporting and Importing Registry Data with Patches
  7. Ten Cool Things You Can Do in Your Registry
3. Chapter 9 The Windows Script Host
  1. What Is WSH?
  2. Additional Resources
  3. Executing Scripts
  4. Creating a Script
  5. VBScript
  6. Object Model
  7. Wscript Object
  8. Shell Object
  9. Registry Routines
  10. Shortcuts
  11. Popup
  12. Network Object
  13. Network Printer-Related Functions
  14. FileSystem Object
  15. TextStream Object
  16. Object Browser
  17. Database Example
  18. Messaging
Appendixes
1. Appendix Installing Windows XP
  1. Installation on a New (Clean) System
2. Appendix Migrating to Windows XP
  1. Before Upgrading to Windows XP
3. Appendix Keyboard Shortcuts
  1. Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Key
  2. Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Function
4. Appendix Power Toys and TweakUI
  1. Inside TweakUI
5. Appendix Keyboard Equivalents for Symbols and International Characters
6. Appendix Common Filename Extensions
7. Appendix Services

Colophon

Title:

Windows XP in a Nutshell

By:

David A. Karp, Tim O'Reilly, Troy Mott

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media

Formats:

Print
Safari Books Online

Print:

April 2002

Pages:

640

Print ISBN:

978-0-596-00249-7

| ISBN 10:

0-596-00249-1

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Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects.

The animal on the cover of Windows XP in a Nutshell is a climbing frog. There are more than 2,600 species of frogs and toads, all easily distinguishable as members of this order. The general differences between frogs and toads are that frogs jump (toads tend to walk), depend more on access to water, and are slimy (as opposed to dry and warty).

Frogs range in size from less than half an inch to almost a foot in length. Frogs are able to survive in diverse surroundings, including water, semi-deserts, and mountains. However, they are not able to survive in salt water and the iciest and driest climates. Frogs metamorphosize from swimming tadpole larvae to their adult form; tadpoles are more vulnerable to predation than are adults. Adult frogs rely on various methods of defense, including light, poison, and many patterns and colors of camouflage. Frogs breathe and absorb water through their skin, which is shed periodically. Most are nocturnal or twilight animals, and rely more on their sense of vision and smell than hearing. Many species hibernate through the winter months. Despite fairy-tale claims, it has not yet been proven that frog-kissing produces princes.

The global frog population has been declining at unprecedented rates in recent years, causing speculation about the overall health of the biosystems from which they are disappearing.

Ann Schirmer was the production editor for Windows XP in a Nutshell. Ann Schirmer and Mary Brady proofread the book. Mary Brady, Claire Cloutier, and Sheryl Avruch provided quality control. Phil Dangler and Sarah Sherman provided production assistance. Joe Wizda wrote the index.

Hanna Dyer designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from the Dover Pictorial Archive. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using AdobeÂ’s ITC Garamond font.

Melanie Wang designed the interior layout, based on a series design by David Futato. Neil Walls converted the files to FrameMaker 5.5.6 using tools created by Mike Sierra. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFontÂ’s TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Nancy Kotary and Ann Schirmer.

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oreilly Windows XP in a Nutshell

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Displaying reviews 1-5

2/15/2004

5.0

Windows XP in a Nutshell Review

By Mike Sandman

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Windows XP in a Nutshell:

This book does a great job of covering the middle ground between a book for novices and a techie's manual. It covers the basics briefly and moves on to the details useful to an experienced Windows user. It even goes into scripting and into the Registry, topics for expert users, but that's at the end of the book so it doesn't get in the way of the things the typical reader will want to know. It's exceptionally well organized and well-indexed. The typeface is crisp -- other computer books look they were mimeographed -- and the screen captures are reasonably clear, although color would make them better. The website lists errata and changes in the 3rd edition -- a nice feature. (I have the first edition.)

6/2/2003

3.0

Windows XP in a Nutshell Review

By Jenn

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Windows XP in a Nutshell:

As an intermediate user who prefers O'Reilly's books over others because the coverage and depth they offer is perfect for me, I was one again pleased with the scope, coverage, and depth provided here.

I consistently recommend O'Reilly more general books to library patrons who are savvy intermediate users. I also recommend their books because of their unique size and superb layout.

As a lover of literature, writing, and logic, I was dismayed to see many more errors than I would have ever expected in a technical publication. The errors I came across in the first 65+ pages were primary typos, easy for an author to miss, outright embarrassing for an editor to overlook. More alarming is that some figures (read: screenshots referred in the text) were the wrong shots. There was a disconnect between what was being referred to in the text and what was shown in the corresponding figure. That's unforgivable.

When a second, revised edition appears, I'll gladly spend money on it. Until then, it's something I'll borrow from the library. Too bad, as I like the series very much.

(As a side note, I recently purchased Windows XP Annoyances, and found an error of logic in its opening pages. It's minor, but I would expect technical writers and editors to be even more discerning and logical than general book editors. I'm a bit disappointed that these errors don't get caught, and a bit worried at what other errors might exist if these made it past the editor's desk.)

Keep printing these books, but please put out revised editions with corrections!

6/2/2002

5.0

Windows XP in a Nutshell Review

By W.A.Florek

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Windows XP in a Nutshell:

David Karps ability as a writer parallels his knowledge and expertise of the Windows Operating System. When all the Other books about Windows XP are "Said & Done", Karp, O'Reilly & Motts "XP in a Nutshell" is the one I will consistently turn to on a daily basis.

Wayne A. Florek

Quarter Moon Technologies

6/1/2002

5.0

Windows XP in a Nutshell Review

By Steve A. Kleinheider

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Windows XP in a Nutshell:

An excellent reference on the Windows XP operating system. It's easy to read, concise, and easily referenced to answer whatever questions you may have regarding Windows XP. I discovered many new and interesting features of the OS in a very short period of time. I recommend this to all users of Windows XP.

4/28/2002

5.0

Windows XP in a Nutshell Review

By K Vainstein

from Undisclosed

Comments about oreilly Windows XP in a Nutshell:

Again: this is 1st, not 3rd, edition. And deleting my comments does not correct the error.

Displaying reviews 1-5


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The Big Picture

Chapter 1 The Lay of the Land

Chapter 2 Using Windows XP

Alphabetical Reference

Chapter 3 The User Interface

Chapter 4 Windows XP Applications and Tools

Chapter 5 Task and Setting Index

Chapter 6 The Command Prompt

Advanced Topics

Chapter 7 Networking

Chapter 8 The Registry

Chapter 9 The Windows Script Host

Appendixes

Appendix Installing Windows XP

Appendix Migrating to Windows XP

Appendix Keyboard Shortcuts

Appendix Power Toys and TweakUI

Appendix Keyboard Equivalents for Symbols and International Characters

Appendix Common Filename Extensions

Appendix Services

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Tim O'Reilly

Troy Mott

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