Windows XP in a Nutshell, 2/e

Description:

Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition documents everything there is to know about the world's most widely used operating system. Updated to include information on Service Pack 2 (SP2), this compact guide is the ultimate resource for IT professionals and Windows XP power users everywhere.

Written in O'Reilly's time-tested in a Nutshell format, Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition cuts through the hype and delivers practical details in a no-nonsense manner. At the heart of the book is an invaluable 200-plus-page section titled Windows XP Application and Tools. In it, readers will find:

• A list of available commands and utilities, including Start Menu accessories, command prompt tools, and hidden system administration utilities
  
• A Task and Setting Index for quick access to hundreds of XP settings
  
• A complete reference to XP's command prompt, including advanced commands and scripting features

Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition also includes a primer on files, folders, and windows; control panels and built-in applications; how to set up a PC for Internet use; and the standard Windows rituals of troubleshooting, installation, and upgrading.

And, of course, this greatly expanded second edition also includes all the need-to-know details about the security technologies featured in SP 2, so you can better defend yourself against viruses, worms, and hackers. Readers even receive guidelines and instructions for installing SP2 on their PC, or across a network of computers.

With its wealth of tips, careful instruction, and expert advice, this must-have desktop reference is dedicated to making your time at the computer safer, easier, and more fun.

 

Chapter 1

Preface 
I. The Big Picture
1. The Lay of the Land

      The Big Picture 

      What's New in Windows XP 

      Windows XP Home and Professional Editions 

      Windows Update 

      Windows Service Packs 
2. Using Windows XP

      The Desktop 

      Point-and-Click Operations 

      Starting Up Applications 

      Styles and Consequences of Styles 

      Windows and Menus 

      Keyboard Accelerators 

      Common Controls 

      Files, Folders, and Disks 

      The Command Line 

      Online Help 

      Shutting Down 
II. Alphabetical Reference
3. The User Interface
4. Windows XP Applications and Tools

      Using the Command Prompt 

      Alphabetical Reference to Windows Components 
5. Task and Setting Index
6. The Command Prompt

      Using the Command Line 

      Command Prompt Choices 

      Wildcards, Pipes, and Redirection 

      Alphabetical Reference to DOS Commands 

      MS-DOS Batch Files 
III. Advanced Topics
7. Networking

      Networking Terminology 

      General Procedures 
8. The Registry

      What's in the Registry 

      Adding and Deleting Registry Keys and Values 

      Organization of the Registry 

      Hives 

      Backing Up the Registry 

      Exporting and Importing Registry Data with Patches 

      Ten Cool Things You Can Do in Your Registry 
9. The Windows Script Host

      What Is WSH? 

      Additional Resources 

      Executing Scripts 

      Creating a Script 

      VBScript 

      Object Model 

      Wscript Object 

      Shell Object 

      Registry Routines 

      Shortcuts 

      Popup 

      Network Object 

      Network Printer-Related Functions 

      FileSystem Object 

      TextStream Object 

      Object Browser 

      Database Example 

      Messaging 
IV. Appendixes
A. Installing Windows XP
B. Migrating to Windows XP
C. Keyboard Shortcuts
D. Power Toys and TweakUI
E. Keyboard Equivalents for Symbols and International Characters
F. Common Filename Extensions
G. Services
H. Service Packs
Index