The Unofficial Guide to Windows XP

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 575 pages
• Published by: Wiley January 31, 2006
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0471763209
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0471763208
• Book Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Weighs: 1.5 pounds

Product Description
The inside scoopfor when you want more than the official line!

Microsoft Windows XP SP2 may be a robust and flexible operating system, but to use it with confidence you'll need to know its quirks and shortcuts. Find out what the manual doesn't always tell you in this insider's guide to using Windows XP in the real world. What's the best way to handle security? How do you set up a network?

From handling data to avoiding crashes, first get the official way, then the best way from two expert power users.
* Unbiased coverage of how to get the most out of Windows XP Service Pack 2, including the new Windows Firewall and wireless UI
* Savvy, real-world advice, from customizing your desktop and managing files to setting up a home network and maintaining security
* Time-saving techniques and practical guidance on how to end-run Windows quirks, avoid pitfalls, and increase your productivity
* Tips and hacks on XP Home versus XP Professional, the new Windows Media Player, managing portable computers, and others
* Sidebars, tables, and illustrations on expanding your reach with PowerToys, getting rid of hidden Windows components, playing games the way your video card intended, and more

Watch for these graphic icons in every chapter to guide you to specific practical information.
* Bright Ideas are smart innovations that will save you time or hassle.
* Hacks are insider tips and shortcuts that increase productivity. When you see
* Watch Out! heed the cautions or warnings to help you avoid common pitfalls. And finally, check out
* Inside Scoops for practical insights from the author. It's like having your own expert at your side!

Back Cover Copy
The inside scoopfor when you want more than the official line!

Microsoft Windows XP SP2 may be a robust and flexible operating system, but to use it with confidence you'll need to know its quirks and shortcuts. Find out what the manual doesn't always tell you in this insider's guide to using Windows XP in the real world. What's the best way to handle security? How do you set up a network?

From handling data to avoiding crashes, first get the official way, then the best way from two expert power users.

• Unbiased coverage of how to get the most out of Windows XP Service Pack 2, including the new Windows Firewall and wireless UI
• Savvy, real-world advice, from customizing your desktop and managing files to setting up a home network and maintaining security
• Time-saving techniques and practical guidance on how to end-run Windows quirks, avoid pitfalls, and increase your productivity
• Tips and hacks on XP Home versus XP Professional, the new Windows Media Player, managing portable computers, and others
• Sidebars, tables, and illustrations on expanding your reach with PowerToys, getting rid of hidden Windows components, playing games the way your video card intended, and more

Watch for these graphic icons in every chapter to guide you to specific practical information.

• Bright Ideas are smart innovations that will save you time or hassle.
• Hacks are insider tips and shortcuts that increase productivity. When you see
• Watch Out! heed the cautions or warnings to help you avoid common pitfalls. And finally, check out
• Inside Scoops for practical insights from the author. It's like having your own expert at your side!

Reader Reviews
Being that I work at a company that uses Windows XP on the desktop, it's to my benefit to understand what it can and can't do (regardless of my personal feelings towards Microsoft). Michael S. Toot and Derek Torres have a well-balanced book that cuts right to the "how to" aspects of Windows XP... The Unofficial Guide to Windows XP. Contents: Part 1 - Installation, Configuration, and Customization: Preparing for Installation; Installing Windows XP; Managing the Windows Desktop Part 2 - Manage the XP Environment: Managing Users; Managing Files and Folders; Managing Security; Mastering Multimedia with Windows XP Part 3 - Networking with Windows XP: Networking and the Internet; Working with Network Services; Integrating with Active Directory Part 4 - Manage the Hardware Environment: Working with Windows Internals; Working with Hard Drives; Managing Portable Computers; Troubleshooting Windows XP Index I think what I liked best about this book is it doesn't attempt to cover every single aspect of Windows with the zeal of a Microsoft evangelist. The authors cover the most often used and touched parts of XP and give you enough information to understand how to work with it and modify it to work the way *you* need to work. Also, if there's something better out there, they'll tell you. For instance, it's not often you'll find a book on Windows where the writers tell you they really dislike Outlook and have switched to Thunderbird for various reasons. I knew then I was getting information based on experience and not party line spin. There's also a large number of tips and hints that you probably don't know but that have bugged you for some time. Like learning that Windows XP and the power management features does not control the wireless connection, and it will drain your battery much faster than you'd think. Didn't know that... Actually, I found myself doing the "didn't know that" routine a lot in this book. I'll be carting this book off to work on Monday in order to prevent a few help desk calls in the future. It might also help me help my users avoid a few, too...