Microsoft Windows XP Unleashed

Microsoft Windows XP Unleashed

by Paul McFedries
Released September 2005
Publisher(s): Sams
ISBN: 9780768683738

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Book description

While what you create using your computer is a unique expression of who you are, how you use your computer probably isn't. Nearly every Windows XP user follows the same Start menu path to launch programs, uses the same standard techniques in programs like Windows Explorer and Outlook Express, and performs the same customizations that don't go much beyond changing the wallpaper. However, there are those of us who qualify as the "post-novice" user, who think that doing things the "official" way is too slow, less efficient and less powerful than there is potential for with Windows XP. Microsoft Windows XP Unleashed will take you beyond the standard-issue default settings and program wizards to shortcuts, new customization techniques, workarounds for common problems, and warnings on how to avoid the pitfalls of Windows XP, including those associated with Service Pack 2. Along the way, you'll learn about all kinds of insider details, undocumented features, powerful tools, and background facts that help put everything about Windows XP into perspective.

Table of contents

  1. Table of Contents (1/4)
  2. Table of Contents (2/4)
  3. Table of Contents (3/4)
  4. Table of Contents (4/4)
  5. Introduction
    1. Who Should Read This Book
    2. How This Book Is Organized
    3. Conventions Used in This Book
  6. Part I: Unleashing Day-to-Day Windows XP
    1. 1 Customizing and Troubleshooting the Windows XP Startup
      1. The Boot Process, from Power Up to Startup
      2. Custom Startups with BOOT.INI (1/2)
      3. Custom Startups with BOOT.INI (2/2)
      4. Custom Startups with the Advanced Options Menu
      5. Useful Windows XP Logon Strategies (1/2)
      6. Useful Windows XP Logon Strategies (2/2)
      7. Troubleshooting Windows XP Startup (1/2)
      8. Troubleshooting Windows XP Startup (2/2)
      9. From Here
    2. 2 Exploring Expert File and Folder Techniques
      1. Basic File and Folder Chores: The Techniques Used by the Pros
      2. Powerful Search Techniques for Finding Files
      3. Customizing Windows Explorer (1/2)
      4. Customizing Windows Explorer (2/2)
      5. From Here
    3. 3 Mastering File Types
      1. Understanding File Types
      2. Working with Existing File Types (1/2)
      3. Working with Existing File Types (2/2)
      4. Creating a New File Type
      5. Associating Two or More Extensions with a Single File Type
      6. Customizing the New Menu
      7. Customizing Windows XP’s Open With List
      8. From Here
    4. 4 Working with Digital Media
      1. Understanding Digital Audio (1/2)
      2. Understanding Digital Audio (2/2)
      3. Understanding Digital Video
      4. Tips for Working with Windows Media Player (1/2)
      5. Tips for Working with Windows Media Player (2/2)
      6. Dealing with Digital Media Files
      7. Customizing Media Folders
      8. From Here
    5. 5 Installing and Running Applications
      1. Practicing Safe Setups
      2. Applications and the Registry
      3. Launching Applications (1/2)
      4. Launching Applications (2/2)
      5. Understanding Application Compatibility (1/2)
      6. Understanding Application Compatibility (2/2)
      7. From Here
    6. 6 Getting the Most Out of User Accounts
      1. Understanding Security Groups
      2. Working with the User Accounts Window
      3. Working with the User Accounts Dialog Box
      4. Working with the Local Users and Groups Snap-In
      5. Setting Account Policies
      6. Working with Users and Groups from the Command Line
      7. Creating and Enforcing Bulletproof Passwords
      8. Sharing Your Computer Securely
      9. From Here
  7. Part II: Unleashing Essential Windows XP Power Tools
    1. 7 Using Control Panel, Group Policies, and Tweak UI
      1. Operating Control Panel
      2. Implementing Group Policies with Windows XP
      3. Tweaking Your System with Tweak UI
      4. From Here
    2. 8 Getting to Know the Windows XP Registry
      1. A Synopsis of the Registry
      2. Understanding the Registry Files (1/2)
      3. Understanding the Registry Files (2/2)
      4. Keeping the Registry Safe
      5. Working with Registry Entries (1/2)
      6. Working with Registry Entries (2/2)
      7. Finding Registry Entries
      8. From Here
    3. 9 Programming the Windows Script Host
      1. WSH: Your Host for Today’s Script
      2. Scripts and Script Execution
      3. Programming Objects
      4. Programming the WScript Object (1/2)
      5. Programming the WScript Object (2/2)
      6. Programming the WshShell Object (1/3)
      7. Programming the WshShell Object (2/3)
      8. Programming the WshShell Object (3/3)
      9. Programming the WshNetwork Object
      10. Example: Scripting Internet Explorer
      11. From Here
  8. Part III: Unleashing Windows XP Customization and Optimization
    1. 10 Customizing the Windows XP Interface
      1. Customizing the Start Menu for Easier Program and Document Launching (1/2)
      2. Customizing the Start Menu for Easier Program and Document Launching (2/2)
      3. Customizing the Taskbar for Easier Program and Document Launching
      4. Controlling Taskbar Grouping
      5. Modifying the Start Menu and Taskbar with Group Policies
      6. Using Screen Space Efficiently
      7. From Here
    2. 11 Tuning Windows XP’s Performance
      1. Monitoring Performance
      2. Optimizing Startup
      3. Optimizing Applications
      4. Optimizing the Hard Disk
      5. Optimizing Virtual Memory
      6. More Optimization Tricks
      7. From Here
    3. 12 Maintaining Your Windows XP System
      1. Checking Your Hard Disk for Errors
      2. Checking Free Disk Space
      3. Deleting Unnecessary Files
      4. Defragmenting Your Hard Disk
      5. Setting System Restore Points
      6. Backing Up Your Files
      7. Running the Automated System Recovery Preparation Wizard
      8. Checking for Updates and Security Patches
      9. Verifying Digitally Signed Files
      10. Reviewing Event Viewer Logs
      11. Setting Up a 10-Step Maintenance Schedule
      12. From Here
    4. 13 Troubleshooting and Recovering from Problems
      1. Troubleshooting Strategies: Determining the Source of a Problem (1/2)
      2. Troubleshooting Strategies: Determining the Source of a Problem (2/2)
      3. General Troubleshooting Tips
      4. Troubleshooting Using Online Resources
      5. Recovering from a Problem (1/2)
      6. Recovering from a Problem (2/2)
      7. From Here
    5. 14 Getting the Most Out of Device Manager
      1. Understanding Windows XP’s Device Support
      2. Tips and Techniques for Installing Devices (1/2)
      3. Tips and Techniques for Installing Devices (2/2)
      4. Managing Your Hardware with Device Manager
      5. Managing Hardware Profiles
      6. Working with Device Security Policies
      7. Troubleshooting Device Problems
      8. From Here
  9. Part IV: Unleashing Windows XP Modem Communications
    1. 15 Getting Started with Modem Communications
      1. A Modem Communications Primer
      2. Modem-to-Modem Communications
      3. Configuring Serial Ports
      4. Installing and Configuring a Modem (1/3)
      5. Installing and Configuring a Modem (2/3)
      6. Installing and Configuring a Modem (3/3)
      7. From Here
    2. 16 Putting Your Modem to Work
      1. Getting Your Modem to Dial Voice Calls for You
      2. Using HyperTerminal for Modem-to-Modem Connections (1/2)
      3. Using HyperTerminal for Modem-to-Modem Connections (2/2)
      4. Sending and Receiving Faxes (1/3)
      5. Sending and Receiving Faxes (2/3)
      6. Sending and Receiving Faxes (3/3)
      7. Remote Collaboration with Microsoft NetMeeting (1/4)
      8. Remote Collaboration with Microsoft NetMeeting (2/4)
      9. Remote Collaboration with Microsoft NetMeeting (3/4)
      10. Remote Collaboration with Microsoft NetMeeting (4/4)
      11. From Here
  10. Part V: Unleashing Windows XP for the Internet
    1. 17 Implementing TCP/IP for Internet Connections
      1. Understanding TCP/IP (1/3)
      2. Understanding TCP/IP (2/3)
      3. Understanding TCP/IP (3/3)
      4. Installing and Configuring TCP/IP
      5. Wielding the TCP/IP Utilities
      6. From Here
    2. 18 Exploring the Web with Internet Explorer
      1. Understanding Web Page Addresses
      2. Tips and Techniques for Better Web Surfing
      3. Searching the Web
      4. The Favorites Folder: Sites to Remember
      5. Reading Pages Offline (1/2)
      6. Reading Pages Offline (2/2)
      7. Customizing Internet Explorer (1/4)
      8. Customizing Internet Explorer (2/4)
      9. Customizing Internet Explorer (3/4)
      10. Customizing Internet Explorer (4/4)
      11. From Here
    3. 19 Communicating with Internet Email
      1. Setting Up Mail Accounts
      2. Handling Incoming Messages (1/2)
      3. Handling Incoming Messages (2/2)
      4. Sending Messages (1/2)
      5. Sending Messages (2/2)
      6. Maintaining Outlook Express
      7. Filtering Incoming Messages
      8. Finding a Message
      9. Finding a Person
      10. Working with Identities
      11. From Here
    4. 20 Participating in Internet Newsgroups
      1. Some Usenet Basics
      2. Setting Up a News Account
      3. Working with Newsgroups in Outlook Express
      4. Downloading Messages
      5. Notes on Working with Newsgroup Messages
      6. Following Up a Message
      7. Posting a New Message
      8. Filtering Newsgroup Messages
      9. Setting News Options
      10. From Here
    5. 21 Implementing Windows XP’s Internet Security and Privacy Features
      1. Working with Email Safely and Securely
      2. Keeping Intruders Out of Your System
      3. Surfing the Web Securely (1/2)
      4. Surfing the Web Securely (2/2)
      5. Blocking Pop-Up Windows
      6. Understanding Internet Explorer’s Advanced Security Options
      7. Security and Privacy Options for Windows Media Player
      8. From Here
  11. Part VI: Unleashing Windows XP Networking
    1. 22 Setting Up and Accessing a Small Network
      1. Understanding Networking
      2. Hardware: NICs and Other Network Knickknacks
      3. Walking the Walk: Topology and the Lay of the LAN
      4. Talking the Talk: Networking Protocols
      5. Setting Up a Peer-to-Peer Network (1/3)
      6. Setting Up a Peer-to-Peer Network (2/3)
      7. Setting Up a Peer-to-Peer Network (3/3)
      8. Connecting to a Wireless Network
      9. Accessing Network Resources (1/2)
      10. Accessing Network Resources (2/2)
      11. Sharing Resources with the Network
      12. Working with Network Files Offline
      13. Administering Your Network (1/2)
      14. Administering Your Network (2/2)
      15. From Here
    2. 23 Making Remote Network Connections
      1. Creating a Dial-Up Connection
      2. Connecting to a Remote Desktop (1/3)
      3. Connecting to a Remote Desktop (2/3)
      4. Connecting to a Remote Desktop (3/3)
      5. Using Virtual Private Network Connections (1/2)
      6. Using Virtual Private Network Connections (2/2)
      7. From Here
    3. 24 Troubleshooting Network Problems
      1. The First Step: Rerun the Network Connection Wizard
      2. Checking Connection Status
      3. Checking Network Utilization
      4. Repairing a Network Connection
      5. Working with Network Diagnostics
      6. Some Group Policy “Problems”
      7. Troubleshooting General Network Nuisances
      8. Cable Conundrums
      9. Troubleshooting Adapter Afflictions
      10. More Sophisticated Tools
      11. From Here
  12. Part VII: Appendixes
    1. A: Windows XP Keyboard Shortcuts (1/2)
    2. A: Windows XP Keyboard Shortcuts (2/2)
    3. B: Using the Windows XP Command Prompt
      1. Getting to Command Prompt
      2. Working with Command Prompt (1/3)
      3. Working with Command Prompt (2/3)
      4. Working with Command Prompt (3/3)
      5. Customizing the Command-Line Window (1/3)
      6. Customizing the Command-Line Window (2/3)
      7. Customizing the Command-Line Window (3/3)
    4. C: Automating Windows XP with Batch Files
      1. Batch Files: Some Background
      2. Creating Batch Files
      3. Making a Home for Your Batch Files
      4. REM: The Simplest Batch File Command
      5. ECHO: A Voice for Your Batch Files
      6. The PAUSE Command
      7. Using Parameters for Batch File Flexibility
      8. SHIFT: A Different Approach to Parameters
      9. Looping with the FOR Command
      10. GOTO: Telling Your Batch Files Where to Go
      11. IF: Handling Batch File Conditions (1/2)
      12. IF: Handling Batch File Conditions (2/2)
      13. Redirecting Windows XP
      14. Piping Commands
    5. D: Glossary
      1. A
      2. B
      3. C
      4. D
      5. E
      6. F
      7. G
      8. H
      9. I
      10. K
      11. L
      12. M
      13. N
      14. O
      15. P
      16. R
      17. S
      18. T
      19. U
      20. V
      21. W
      22. X
  13. Index
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C (1/2)
    4. C (2/2)
    5. D
    6. E
    7. F
    8. G
    9. H
    10. I
    11. J - K
    12. L
    13. M
    14. N
    15. O
    16. P
    17. Q
    18. R
    19. S (1/2)
    20. S (2/2)
    21. T
    22. U
    23. V
    24. W
    25. X - Y - Z

Product information

  • Title: Microsoft Windows XP Unleashed
  • Author(s): Paul McFedries
  • Release date: September 2005
  • Publisher(s): Sams
  • ISBN: 9780768683738