Windows XP in a Nutshell

Windows XP in a Nutshell

Released April 2002
Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ISBN: 9780596002497

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Book description

This compact and comprehensive book systematically unveils what resolute users of the new Windows XP operating system will find interesting and useful, with little-known details, utility programs, and configuration settings all captured in a consistent reference format. A hands-on guide, Windows XP in a Nutshell cuts through the hype and gives practical details you can use every day. It's written by David A. Karp, the best-selling author whose no-nonsense "Annoyances" books and web site (Annoyances.org) have helped thousands of users solve problems and improve their experience with Windows®. The co-author is none other than Tim O'Reilly, founder of O'Reilly & Associates, whose books have revolutionized computer book publishing with their commonsense approach and depth of detail. At the heart of the book is a 200-plus-page reference section titled "Windows XP Applications and Tools," containing:

  • Detailed information on most of the commands and utilities available with Windows XP, including Start Menu accessories, command prompt tools, hidden system administration utilities such as the Registry Editor, Microsoft Management Console, and TweakUI.

  • A comprehensive "Where to Find It?" section designed to give Windows 9x/Me and Windows NT/2000 users a guide to the XP counterparts to previously familiar features, plus information on installing and upgrading.

  • The Task and Setting Index, which provides users with quick access to locations of the hundreds of settings in Windows XP, organized alphabetically.

  • A complete reference to the command prompt-- not only covering the basics of the command line and the different ways to use it, but also the advanced commands and scripting features at Windows XP's disposal.

    • Packed with numerous tips and tricks, while warning of potential pitfalls, Windows XP in a Nutshell enables anyone to get the most out of all the resources available in XP.

    Table of contents

    1. Windows XP in a Nutshell
      1. Preface
        1. Considerations and Scope
        2. Organization of the Book
          1. Part I
          2. Part II
          3. Part III
          4. Part IV
          5. Conventions Used in This Book
          6. Path Notation
          7. Command-Line Syntax
        3. We’d Like to Hear from You
        4. Windows XP Resource Links
        5. Acknowledgments
      2. I. The Big Picture
        1. 1. The Lay of the Land
          1. The Big Picture
          2. What’s New in Windows XP
            1. What’s New for Users of Windows 9x/Me
            2. What’s New for Users of Windows 2000
            3. What’s New, Regardless of Your Previous OS
          3. Windows XP Home and Professional Editions
          4. Windows Update
        2. 2. Using Windows XP
          1. The Desktop
          2. Point and Click Operations
            1. Default Behavior
            2. Alternate Behavior
          3. Starting Up Applications
          4. Styles and Consequences of Styles
          5. Windows and Menus
          6. Keyboard Accelerators
          7. Common Controls
          8. Files, Folders, and Disks
            1. Disk Names
            2. Pathnames
            3. Paths to Network Resources
            4. Short Names and Long Names
            5. File Types and Extensions
            6. Views Through Folder Windows
            7. Keyboard Accelerators in Folder Windows
            8. Advanced Drag-Drop Techniques
          9. The Command Line
          10. Online Help
          11. Shutting Down
      3. II. Alphabetical Reference
        1. 3. The User Interface
          1. Address Bar
          2. Buttons
          3. Checkboxes
          4. Clipboard
          5. Combo Boxes
          6. Context Menus
          7. Control Menus
          8. Desktop
          9. Details
          10. Dialog Boxes
          11. Drop-Down Listboxes
          12. File Open/Save Dialogs
          13. Icons
          14. Input Fields
          15. Labels
          16. Listboxes
          17. Log Off
          18. Menus
          19. My Computer
          20. My Network Places
          21. Notification Area
          22. Progress Indicators
          23. Properties
          24. Radio Buttons
          25. Recycle Bin
          26. Run
          27. Scroll Bars
          28. Send To
          29. Shortcuts
          30. Shut Down
          31. Start Menu
          32. Status Bar
          33. System Tray
          34. Tabbed Dialogs
          35. Taskbar
          36. Text Boxes
          37. Title Bars
          38. Toolbars
          39. Tray
          40. Trees
          41. Turn Off Computer
          42. Windows
        2. 4. Windows XP Applications and Tools
          1. Using the Command Prompt
          2. Alphabetical Reference to Windows Components
          3. Accessibility Options
            1. Accessibility Options
          4. Accessibility Wizard
            1. Accessibility Wizard
          5. Activate Windows
            1. Activate Windows
          6. Active Connections Utility
            1. Active Connections Utility
          7. Add Hardware Wizard
            1. Add Hardware Wizard
          8. Add or Remove Programs
            1. Add or Remove Programs
          9. Address Book
            1. Address Book
          10. Administrative Tools
            1. Administrative Tools
          11. At
            1. At
          12. Attrib
            1. Attrib
          13. Backup
            1. Backup
          14. Boot Configuration Manager
            1. Boot Configuration Manager
          15. Cabinet (CAB) Maker
            1. Cabinet (CAB) Maker
          16. Calculator
            1. Calculator
          17. Character Map
            1. Character Map
          18. Chat
            1. Chat
          19. Chkdsk
            1. Chkdsk
          20. Chkntfs
            1. Chkntfs
          21. Clipbook Viewer
            1. Clipbook Viewer
          22. Command Prompt
            1. Command Prompt
          23. Component Services
            1. Component Services
          24. Computer Management
            1. Computer Management
          25. Connection Manager Profile Installer
            1. Connection Manager Profile Installer
          26. Control Panel
            1. Control Panel
          27. Create Shared Folder
            1. Create Shared Folder
          28. Date and Time Properties
            1. Date and Time Properties
          29. DDE Share
            1. DDE Share
          30. Device Manager
            1. Device Manager
          31. DirectX Management Tool
            1. DirectX Management Tool
          32. Disk Cleanup
            1. Disk Cleanup
          33. Disk Defragmenter
            1. Disk Defragmenter
          34. DiskPart
            1. DiskPart
          35. Display Properties
            1. Display Properties
          36. Dr. Watson
            1. Dr. Watson
          37. Driver Verifier Manager
            1. Driver Verifier Manager
          38. DriverQuery
            1. DriverQuery
          39. Event Viewer
            1. Event Viewer
          40. Explorer
            1. Explorer
          41. FAT to NTFS Conversion Utility
            1. FAT to NTFS Conversion Utility
          42. Fax Console
            1. Fax Console
          43. Fax Cover Page Editor
            1. Fax Cover Page Editor
          44. File Compare (comp)
            1. File Compare (comp)
          45. File Compare (fc)
            1. File Compare (fc)
          46. File Expansion Utility
            1. File Expansion Utility
          47. File and Settings Transfer Wizard
            1. File and Settings Transfer Wizard
          48. Finger
            1. Finger
          49. Folder Options
            1. Folder Options
          50. Font Viewer
            1. Font Viewer
          51. Fonts Folder
            1. Fonts Folder
          52. ForceDOS
            1. ForceDOS
          53. Format
            1. Format
          54. FreeCell
            1. FreeCell
          55. FTP
            1. FTP
          56. Game Controllers
            1. Game Controllers
          57. Group Policy Refresh Utility
            1. Group Policy Refresh Utility
          58. Hearts
            1. Hearts
          59. Help and Support Center
            1. Help and Support Center
          60. HyperTerminal
            1. HyperTerminal
          61. IExpress
            1. IExpress
          62. Internet Backgammon
            1. Internet Backgammon
          63. Internet Checkers
            1. Internet Checkers
          64. Internet Explorer
            1. Internet Explorer
          65. Internet Hearts
            1. Internet Hearts
          66. Internet Reversi
            1. Internet Reversi
          67. Internet Options
            1. Internet Options
          68. Internet Spades
            1. Internet Spades
          69. Java Command-Line Loader
            1. Java Command-Line Loader
          70. Keyboard Properties
            1. Keyboard Properties
          71. Label
            1. Label
          72. Local Security Policy
            1. Local Security Policy
          73. Logoff
            1. Logoff
          74. Microsoft Chat
            1. Microsoft Chat
          75. Microsoft Magnifier
            1. Microsoft Magnifier
          76. Microsoft Management Console
            1. Microsoft Management Console
          77. Microsoft NetMeeting
            1. Microsoft NetMeeting
          78. Minesweeper
            1. Minesweeper
          79. Mouse Properties
            1. Mouse Properties
          80. Msg
            1. Msg
          81. MSN Explorer
            1. MSN Explorer
          82. MSN Gaming Zone
            1. MSN Gaming Zone
          83. My Computer
            1. My Computer
          84. My Network Places
            1. My Network Places
          85. Narrator
            1. Narrator
          86. Net
            1. Net
          87. Netstat
            1. Netstat
          88. Network Connections
            1. Network Connections
          89. Network Setup Wizard
            1. Network Setup Wizard
          90. New Connection Wizard
            1. New Connection Wizard
          91. Notepad
            1. Notepad
          92. NSLookup
            1. NSLookup
          93. NTFS Compression Utility
            1. NTFS Compression Utility
          94. NTFS Encryption Utility
            1. NTFS Encryption Utility
          95. Object Packager
            1. Object Packager
          96. ODBC Data Source Administrator
            1. ODBC Data Source Administrator
          97. On-Screen Keyboard
            1. On-Screen Keyboard
          98. OpenFiles
            1. OpenFiles
          99. Outlook Express
            1. Outlook Express
          100. Paint
            1. Paint
          101. Pentium Bug Checker
            1. Pentium Bug Checker
          102. Performance Log Manager
            1. Performance Log Manager
          103. Performance Logs and Alerts
            1. Performance Logs and Alerts
          104. Phone and Modem Options
            1. Phone and Modem Options
          105. Phone Dialer
            1. Phone Dialer
          106. Pinball
            1. Pinball
          107. PING
            1. PING
          108. Power Options
            1. Power Options
          109. Printers and Faxes
            1. Printers and Faxes
          110. Private Character Editor
            1. Private Character Editor
          111. Product Activation
            1. Product Activation
          112. Program Manager
            1. Program Manager
          113. Query Process
            1. Query Process
          114. Regional and Language Options
            1. Regional and Language Options
          115. Recycle Bin
            1. Recycle Bin
          116. Registry Console Utility
            1. Registry Console Utility
          117. Registry Editor
            1. Registry Editor
          118. Remote Assistance
            1. Remote Assistance
          119. Remote Copy
            1. Remote Copy
          120. Remote Desktop Connection
            1. Remote Desktop Connection
          121. Route
            1. Route
          122. Rundll32
            1. Rundll32
          123. Run As
            1. Run As
          124. Scanners and Cameras
            1. Scanners and Cameras
          125. Scheduled Tasks
            1. Scheduled Tasks
          126. Scheduled Tasks Console
            1. Scheduled Tasks Console
          127. Security Template Utility
            1. Security Template Utility
          128. Send a Fax
            1. Send a Fax
          129. Services
            1. Services
          130. Shutdown
            1. Shutdown
          131. Signature Verification Tool
            1. Signature Verification Tool
          132. Solitaire
            1. Solitaire
          133. Sound Recorder
            1. Sound Recorder
          134. Sounds and Audio Devices
            1. Sounds and Audio Devices
          135. Speech Properties
            1. Speech Properties
          136. Spider Solitaire
            1. Spider Solitaire
          137. SQL Server Client Network Utility
            1. SQL Server Client Network Utility
          138. Start Menu
            1. Start Menu
          139. Subst
            1. Subst
          140. Synchronization Manager
            1. Synchronization Manager
          141. System Properties
            1. System Properties
          142. System Configuration Editor
            1. System Configuration Editor
          143. System Configuration Utility
            1. System Configuration Utility
          144. System Information
            1. System Information
          145. System Restore
            1. System Restore
          146. Task Manager
            1. Task Manager
          147. Taskbar and Start Menu Properties
            1. Taskbar and Start Menu Properties
          148. Taskkill
            1. Taskkill
          149. Tasklist
            1. Tasklist
          150. Telnet
            1. Telnet
          151. Telnet Administrator
            1. Telnet Administrator
          152. Tracert
            1. Tracert
          153. User Accounts
            1. User Accounts
          154. Utility Manager
            1. Utility Manager
          155. Volume Control
            1. Volume Control
          156. Windows Explorer
            1. Windows Explorer
          157. Windows File Checker
            1. Windows File Checker
          158. Windows Help System
            1. Windows Help System
          159. Windows IP Configuration
            1. Windows IP Configuration
          160. Windows Media Player
            1. Windows Media Player
          161. Windows Messenger
            1. Windows Messenger
          162. Windows Movie Maker
            1. Windows Movie Maker
          163. Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
            1. Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
          164. Windows Script Host
            1. Windows Script Host
          165. Windows Update
            1. Windows Update
          166. WordPad
            1. WordPad
        3. 5. Task and Setting Index
          1. Accessibility
          2. Address Bar
          3. Administrative Tools
          4. Advanced Power Management (APM)
          5. Animation
          6. Applications
          7. Autocomplete
          8. Autodial
          9. Automatic Windows Update
          10. Background
          11. Br-Ca
          12. CD Drive
          13. Certificates
          14. Cl-Co
          15. Color Profiles
          16. Colors
          17. Com-Con
          18. Control Panel
          19. Cookies
          20. Country
          21. Cr-Da
          22. Desktop
          23. Devices
          24. Dialing
          25. Dig-Dis
          26. Display
          27. Do-Dr
          28. DVD
          29. Ef-Em
          30. Encrypted NTFS Files
          31. En-Ex
          32. Favorites
          33. Fax
          34. Files
          35. Firewall
          36. Folders
          37. Fonts
          38. FTP
          39. Go-Ha
          40. Hard Disk
          41. Hardware
          42. He-HT
          43. Icons
          44. Images
          45. Indexing
          46. Ins-Int
          47. Internet Connection Firewall
          48. Internet Explorer
          49. In-Jo
          50. Keyboard
          51. Language
          52. Li-Me
          53. Menus
          54. Message Box
          55. Modems
          56. Mouse
          57. My Computer
          58. My Documents
          59. My Music
          60. My Network Places
          61. My Pictures
          62. NetMeeting
          63. Network
          64. Network Connections
          65. Ne-OD
          66. Offline Files
          67. Ou-Pa
          68. Passwords
          69. Pa-Pr
          70. Printers
          71. Pr-Ru
          72. Scheduled Tasks
          73. Sc-Si
          74. Software
          75. Sounds
          76. Speech
          77. Start Menu
          78. Startup
          79. St-Sy
          80. System Restore
          81. Task
          82. Taskbar
          83. Taskbar Notification Area
          84. Tele-Teln
          85. Temporary Internet Files
          86. Terminal Server
          87. Text Cursor
          88. The-Thu
          89. Time
          90. Ti-To
          91. Tooltips
          92. Tr-Us
          93. Users
          94. Vid-Vir
          95. Voice
          96. Vo-We
          97. Windows
          98. Windows Explorer
          99. Wi...
        4. 6. The Command Prompt
          1. Using the Command Line
          2. Command Prompt Choices
          3. Wildcards, Pipes, and Redirection
            1. Examples
          4. Alphabetical Reference to DOS Commands
          5. cd or chdir
            1. cd or chdir
          6. cls
            1. cls
          7. copy
            1. copy
          8. date
            1. date
          9. del or erase
            1. del or erase
          10. dir
            1. dir
          11. echo
            1. echo
          12. exit
            1. exit
          13. find
            1. find
          14. md or mkdir
            1. md or mkdir
          15. more
            1. more
          16. move
            1. move
          17. path
            1. path
          18. prompt
            1. prompt
          19. rd or rmdir
            1. rd or rmdir
          20. ren or rename
            1. ren or rename
          21. set
            1. set
          22. sort
            1. sort
          23. time
            1. time
          24. type
            1. type
          25. ver
            1. ver
          26. xcopy
            1. xcopy
          27. MS-DOS Batch Files
            1. Creating Batch Files
            2. Some Rules of the Road
            3. The “Why” and “When” of Using Batch Files
            4. Variables
            5. Additional Commands Used in Batch Files
          28. call
            1. call
          29. choice
            1. choice
          30. errorlevel
            1. errorlevel
          31. for
            1. for
          32. goto
            1. goto
          33. if
            1. if
          34. pause
            1. pause
          35. rem
            1. rem
          36. shift
            1. shift
      4. III. Advanced Topics
        1. 7. Networking
          1. Networking Terminology
            1. Planning Your Network
            2. Configuring Network Connections
              1. LAN or High-Speed Internet connection properties
              2. Dial-up / Broadband connection properties
              3. Other connection actions
            3. Protocols and Services
          2. General Procedures
            1. Setting Up a LAN
              1. What to do if your connection doesn’t work
            2. Sharing Resources
              1. Mapping drives
              2. Administrative shares
              3. Permissions
              4. Sharing printers
            3. Connecting to the Internet
              1. DSL, cable, or other high-speed connection with a static IP address
              2. Notes:
              3. DSL, cable, or other high-speed connection via PPPoE
              4. Notes
              5. Connection provided by another computer or router via Internet Connection Sharing
              6. Notes
              7. Dial-up connection, including analog modems over standard phone lines
              8. Notes
            4. Sharing an Internet Connection
              1. Setting up Internet Connection Sharing
              2. Troubleshooting Internet Connection Sharing
              3. Alternatives to Internet Connection Sharing
            5. Implementing Network Security
              1. Using the Internet Connection Firewall
              2. Notes
              3. Protecting your data with passwords and encryption
              4. Additional security tips
        2. 8. The Registry
          1. What’s in the Registry
          2. Adding and Deleting Registry Keys and Values
          3. Organization of the Registry
            1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR)
            2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU)
            3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM)
            4. HKCU\Software and HKLM\SOFTWARE
            5. HKEY_USERS (HKU)
            6. HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC)
          4. Hives
          5. Backing Up the Registry
          6. Exporting and Importing Registry Data with Patches
          7. Ten Cool Things You Can Do in Your Registry
        3. 9. The Windows Script Host
          1. What Is WSH?
          2. Additional Resources
          3. Executing Scripts
            1. Using wscript.exe
            2. Using cscript.exe
          4. Creating a Script
          5. VBScript
            1. Comments
            2. Continuation Character
            3. Variables
            4. Object Variables
            5. Conditional Statements
            6. Functions and Subroutines
            7. Variable Scope
            8. Loops
            9. Collections
            10. Error Handling
            11. Constants
          6. Object Model
            1. Conventions
          7. Wscript Object
            1. Echo Method
            2. CreateObject Method
            3. Arguments Collection
            4. Quit
          8. Shell Object
            1. ExpandEnvironmentVariables Method
            2. Run Method
            3. SpecialFolders Collection
          9. Registry Routines
            1. RegRead
            2. RegWrite
            3. RegDelete
          10. Shortcuts
          11. Popup
          12. Network Object
            1. EnumNetworkDrives
            2. MapNetworkDrive
            3. RemoveNetworkDrive
          13. Network Printer-Related Functions
            1. EnumPrinterConnections
            2. AddPrinterConnection
            3. SetDefaultPrinter
            4. RemovePrinterConnection
          14. FileSystem Object
            1. GetTempName Method
            2. FileExists/FolderExists Methods
            3. Drives Collection
            4. Folders Collection
            5. Copy/Move Methods
            6. Delete Method
            7. Files Collection
            8. Copy/Move Methods
            9. Delete Method
          15. TextStream Object
          16. Object Browser
          17. Database Example
          18. Messaging
      5. IV. Appendixes
        1. A. Installing Windows XP
          1. Installation on a New (Clean) System
            1. Upgrade from a Previous Version of Windows
            2. Installation from DOS (or a Windows 9x/Me Boot Disk)
            3. Setting Up a Dual-Boot System
            4. Re-Installation over an Existing Windows XP Install
            5. Potential Problems During Setup
            6. The Windows Recovery Console
        2. B. Migrating to Windows XP
          1. Before Upgrading to Windows XP
            1. After Upgrading to Windows XP
        3. C. Keyboard Shortcuts
          1. Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Key
          2. Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Function
        4. D. Power Toys and TweakUI
          1. Inside TweakUI
        5. E. Keyboard Equivalents for Symbols and International Characters
        6. F. Common Filename Extensions
        7. G. Services
      6. Index
      7. Colophon

    Product information

    • Title: Windows XP in a Nutshell
    • Author(s):
    • Release date: April 2002
    • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
    • ISBN: 9780596002497