Organization of This Book
Chapter 1, Getting Started with Windows XP, discusses not only some of the more common annoyances in the operating system and why they're there, but also many of the improvements in this version over its successors. It's good stuff for gaining perspective on the operating system and its history of annoying behavior. Learn the best ways to install (and reinstall) Windows XP, including some advanced tips, such as setting up a dual-boot system and activation.
Chapter 2, Basic Explorer Coping Skills, starts by examining the Windows user interface and some of the settings that can significantly impact its usefulness. This is followed by a discussion of the way you work with Windows and how to take advantage of some of its lesser-known tricks and customization features, including advanced tips on Explorer: file-manipulation tricks, undocumented interface tweaks, and, best of all, some workarounds for Explorer's annoying Search tool. Finally, information on customizing skins and creating your own startup screen should whet your appetite for some of the real meat in the rest of the book.
Chapter 3, The Registry, reveals the structure of the Registry, Windows's giant database of settings and system configuration data, as well as the use of the Registry Editor application. This information is especially important, as most of the rest of the book depends on a working knowledge of the Registry. In addition to Registry basics, this chapter includes some advanced topics, ...
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