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Big Book of Windows Hacks

By Preston Gralla
First Edition  October 2007 
Pages: 652
Series: Hacks
ISBN 10: 0-596-52835-3 | ISBN 13: 9780596528355

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Book description

Bigger, better and broader in scope, the Big Book of Windows Hacks gives you everything you need to get the most out of your Windows Vista or XP system, including its related applications and the hardware it runs on or connects to. This book takes you beyond the operating system with hacks for applications like Internet Explorer 7 and Office 2007, and hardware such as the Zune, your networking gear, and the PC itself.
Full Description

Bigger, better, and broader in scope, the Big Book of Windows Hacks gives you everything you need to get the most out of your Windows Vista or XP system, including its related applications and the hardware it runs on or connects to. Whether you want to tweak Vista's Aero interface, build customized sidebar gadgets and run them from a USB key, or hack the "unhackable" screensavers, you'll find quick and ingenious ways to bend these recalcitrant operating systems to your will.

The Big Book of Windows Hacks focuses on Vista, the new bad boy on Microsoft's block, with hacks and workarounds that also work for Windows XP. You can read each hack in just a few minutes, saving countless hours of searching for the right answer. The step-by-step instructions let you apply the solutions in no time. This book takes you beyond the operating system with hacks for applications like Internet Explorer 7 and Office 2007, and hardware such as the Zune, your wireless router, and the PC itself.

The Big Book of Windows Hacks includes:
  • Expanded tutorials, new background material, a series of "quick hacks", and informative sidebars
  • Security hacks, including protection at wireless hotspots, hacking Vista file permissions and user account protection, and more
  • Efficiency hacks, such as tweaking your PC hardware, troubleshooting hardware problems, and speeding up system performance
  • Fun hacks, like building a custom Media Center PC or turning a PC into a digital video recorder
  • "Beyond Windows" hacks for running Linux inside Vista, dual-booting Linux/Windows or XP/Vista, or emulate classic video games on your PC
In all, this remarkable book contains more than 100 hacks so that the power user in you never again needs to be at the mercy of systems and hardware run by Microsoft's omnipotent Vista and XP operating systems.

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Media reviews
"A massive and impressive collection of 188 hacks to modify the Windows operating system to perform better, to be more secure, to increase computer performance, to execute multimedia operations, to extend the OS to host other OSs, and to do much more. There has never been such a compilation of hacks for inquisitive PC users before. It is fascinating to see what the author has been able to accomplish...and then document and share in this book. (Reprinted with permission from The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing, copyright 2007, Graphic Dimensions, Lauderdale by the Sea, FL.)"
-- Michael Kleper, The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing


"Despite Microsoft's claims that their vaunted "focus groups" and client experience consultants have allowed them to offer us painless computing, you and the rest of the world know it isn't true. Waiting for Windows XP or Vista to boot up and shut down certainly are irritations in themselves worth a hack or two. As you can imagine, this is a large book. That is not just the number of pages (650) but also the format -- of the fold-flat variety. This big book of hacks is easy to work with physically. The editorial review on this page describes the contents well except that I would alter "contains more than 100 hacks" to "contains almost 200 hacks." Quite a difference. The writing is clear and informed. I'm sure you have read many of Gralla's magazine contributions over the years. Be sure that the book is not all text. There are plenty of illustrations and even photos (for the hardware hacks) to guide you. The hacks themselves are directed at all versions of Windows, with the focus on XP and Vista. Consider this book a compendium of all those tips you always rip out of your computer magazine subscriptions to save -- then lose track of. Here they are, all in one place, not easily lost given the size of this book!"
-- Brett Merkey, Amazon.com


"I know there are plenty of how to guides and websites on the internet but the Big Book of Windows Hacks has compiled a ton of useful and very helpful information and tips in one spot for quick reference. Not only do they tell how to get your computer to do the things you want it to but they explain exactly what they are doing and where so you learn more about your computer and Windows in general. "
-- Jeff Gedgaud, Associated Content: The People's Media Company



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Big Book of Windows Hacks
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"There has never been such a compilation of hacks for inquisitive PC users before..."
--Michael Kleper, The Kleper Report on Digital Publishing