Book description
In an ideal world, an operating system is a collection of software that handles a computer's "dirty work" invisibly, quickly, and most of all, painlessly. For many of us, however, Microsoft Windows exists outside this ideal world. We are annoyed by "personalized Menus" that keep changing, icons we don't use cluttering up our workspace, periodic crashes, unintelligible error messages, and inadequate documentation to help us figure it all out. Windows Me Annoyances has the insider information you need for overcoming Windows' many annoyances and limitations. Whether you're looking to finally solve a nagging problem, dramatically improve system performance, or customize the interface to better suit your work habits, the Windows Me Annoyances solution-oriented format makes finding information and implementing solutions easy and pain free. Thanks to the thorough and relevant documentation on the registry, Windows Scripting Host, and Windows' built-in networking capabilities, customizing and improving Windows Me is easier than ever. Based on the author's extremely popular Annoyances.org web sites, Windows Me Annoyances delivers an authoritative collection of techniques and tools for customizing Windows Me, including:
Several approaches and hidden tools for working with the Windows registry, the database of system- and application-specific configuration information
How to bypass Windows roadblocks such as the Home Networking and System Restore wizards, allowing you to take control of the processes quickly and painlessly
A tutorial and reference on automation with the Windows Scripting Host as a means of eliminating many Windows Me annoyances
Using third-party software and utilities to handle some of the more complex workarounds and customizations
Dealing with software that overwrites your file associations and other settings without warning
Windows Me Annoyances is the intermediate and advanced Windows user's best resource for turning Windows into the user-friendly, customizable interface it was meant to be, but doesn't always manage to be on its own.
Table of contents
-
Windows Me Annoyances
- Preface
- 1. Making the Most of Windows Me
-
2. Basic Explorer Coping Skills
- Coping with Explorer
- Tweaking the Interface
- Regaining Control of the Desktop
-
3. The Registry
- Getting to Know the Registry Editor
- Behind the Scenes: Hives and DAT Files
- Backing Up the Registry
- Restoring a Corrupted Registry
- Using Registry Patches
- Finding the Right Registry Key
- Automating the Deletion of Registry Items
- Search the Registry Effectively
- Compacting the Registry
- Using INI Files
- Understanding File Types
- Registry Tools
-
4. Tinkering Techniques
- Cleaning Up the Desktop
-
Files and Folders
- Clean Up and Customize System Folders
- Customize Context Menus
- Protect Your File Types
- Clear Unwanted Entries from Explorer’s New Menu
- Clear Unwanted Entries from the Search Menu
- Mirror a Folder with Folder Shortcuts
- Print Out a Directory Listing
- Turn File Icons into Thumbnail Previews
- Customize the Places Bar
- Making Windows Your Own
-
5. Maximizing Performance
- Removing Software Bottlenecks
-
Fine-Tuning and Upgrading Hardware Components
- Monitors
- Video Cards (Display Adapters)
- Motherboards
- Processors
- Memory
- Hard Disks
- Hard-Disk Controllers
- SCSI Controllers
- CD and DVD Drives
- Tape Drives, Removable Cartridge Drives, and CD Recorders
- Modems
- Network Cards
- Sound Cards
- Printers
- Mice and Other Pointing Devices
- Keyboards
- The Box and Power Supply
- Transfer Windows onto Another Hard Disk
-
6. Troubleshooting
- General Troubleshooting Techniques
-
Dealing with Drivers and Other Tales of Hardware Troubleshooting
- Looking for a Driver
- Updating and Verifying Drivers
- Handling Misbehaving Drivers
- Resolving Hardware Conflicts
- Firmware: Software for Your Hardware
- The Trials and Tribulations of Plug and Play
- Stop Plug and Play from Detecting Devices
-
Fixing Device-Specific Problems
- Video cards (also known as display adapters)
- Monitors
- Hard disks and floppy-diskette drives
- Hard-disk controllers
- SCSI controllers
- CD-ROM drives
- Tape drives
- Removable, optical, and recordable CD-ROM drives
- Modems
- Printers
- Scanners and cameras
- Sound cards
- Network cards
- Memory
- USB ports
- Motherboards and CPUs
- Power supplies
- Using Multiple Hardware Configurations
- Connect Peripherals Without Restarting Windows
- Designate Drive Letters
- Stop Windows from Randomly Searching the Floppy Drive
- Force NumLock to Behave
- Turn Off the PC Speaker
- Error Messages
- Preventive Maintenance and Data Recovery
-
7. Networking and Internetworking
- Setting Up a Workgroup
- Connecting to the Internet
- Dealing with Dialing
- Mixing and Matching Networks and Other Tricks of the Trade
- Security and Multiple Users
- 8. Taking Control of Web Integration
-
9. Scripting and Automation
-
Building a Script with VBScript
- Using Variables to Store and Manipulate Information
- Giving Your Scripts an Interface with the InputBox and MsgBox Commands
- Creating Interactive Scripts with Conditional Statements
- Using Loops, Using Loops, Using Loops
- Making Building Blocks with Subroutines and Functions
- Extending Scripts with Object References
- Running Applications from Scripts
- Accessing the Registry from Scripts
- Manipulating Files from Scripts
- Creating Windows and Internet Shortcuts in Scripts
- Networking with Scripts
- Manipulating Internet Explorer from Scripts
- Using Command-Line Parameters in Scripts
- Writing CGI Scripts for a Web Server
- Making a Startup Script
- Deciphering Script Errors
- Finding a Better Editor
- Further Study
- Automating Scripts with Scheduled Tasks
- Wacky Script Ideas
-
Building a Script with VBScript
- A. Setting Locator
- B. DOS Resurrected
- C. Class IDs of System Objects
- Index
- Colophon
Product information
- Title: Windows Me Annoyances
- Author(s):
- Release date: March 2001
- Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
- ISBN: 9780596000608
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